LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



I 



FORMS 

FOR 

Special Occasions; 



MARRIAGE, BURIAL, BAPTISM, THE LORD'S SUPPER, 
ORDINATION, DEDICATION, ETC.: 

WITH 

SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS 

FOR 

THE CHAMBER OF SICKNESS, 

THE HOUSE OF MOURNING, 

THE SERVICE AT FUNERALS. 




C. H. WHITING. 
CHICAGO : 



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nor conurem 
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WASHINGTON 



COPYRIGHT, 1889. 

BY C. H. WHITING. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The Author and Compiler of this Book of Forms is in 
fullest sympathy with the conviction that the genius of 
Presbyterianism is for doctrine and instruction, that it 
has affinity for a simple mode of worship, and that lit- 
urgical repetitions, however packed with Scripture and 
however redolent of devotion, can never take large place 
in the service of the Presbyterian Church, while she re- 
mains true to her historic precedents and instincts. 

Yet, while recognizing the fact that elaborate cere- 
mony, prescribed chant and liturgy, and fixed grooves 
for devotion, are uncongenial to the great body of those 
holding the Presb5 T terian faith and polity, it still re- 
mains true that there are occasional and special services 
where an appointed order, even to the suggestion of 
specific verbal form, may be helpful to the minister, and 
in the interests of an edifying conduct of such services. 
An authoritative, mandatory submission of even these 
limited formulas would meet with no favor in the Pres- 
byterian Church. But it is believed by the writer that 
there is large room and wide use for a further contribu- 
tion to our limited treasury of forms for special services, 
provided respect be shown to the liberty of the individ- 

iii 



iv 



IX TROD UCTOR K 



ual, and loyal regard be paid to our standards of faith 
and worship. 

It has been the Author's aim to make this little 
Manual especially rich in its selections of Scripture, and 
to give such prayers as are herein recorded the flavor of 
the Divine Word. 

For a bridal service two original forms are given, the 
one much briefer than the other, having their conceived 
adaptation to the differing circumstances in which mar- 
riage may be administered. A third form of bridal ser- 
vice is given, taken from the Book of Common Prayer 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church. It is inserted as a 
matter of convenience to meet a possible preference. 

It is hoped the grouping of passages of Scripture 
for the sick room will be found to meet a need for which 
it is not known that any special provision has hitherto 
been made. 

It is believed, also, that the distinction made between 
the baptized children of the church and others, in their 
reception for the first time to the Lord's table is of grave 
importance, serving to emphasize the covenant relation 
into which God has been pleased to enter with his people, 
and to mark a distinct feature of our church order and 
life. 

Hkrrick Johnson. 

Chicago, January iglh, 1889. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Form for Marriage i 

Scripture Selections for the Chamber of Sick- 
ness ii 

Green Pastures Page n 

Still Waters " 12 

Delectable Mountains " 14 

The Entrance Gate " 16 

At Eventide " 18 

Scripture Selections for the House of Mourn- 
ing 20 

Everlasting Foundations Page 20 

Exceeding Great Promises ........ '* 25 

Safe Hiding Places ........... " 27 

Precious Consolations " 28 

Form for Burial, of the Dead 32 

Service at the Church Page 32 

Service at the House " 34 

Service at the Grave 34 

Scripture Selections for Funeral Service. . . 36 

For a Child Page 36 

For the Aged " 43 

God's Comfort " 45 

Sovereignty " 48 

Mortality " 51 

Chastening " 55 

Godly Sorrow " 58 

Trust u 60 

Resurrection . . " 63 

Heaven ... " 68 



Form for Infant Baptism 



v 



74 



VI CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Form for Reception to the Lord's Supper . . 78 

Of Persons Baptized in Infancy Page 78 

Of Persons to be Baptized on Profession of 

Faith " 79 

Of Persons from Other Churches ... " 82 

Summary of Presbyterian Doctrine 84 

Notes Concerning the Lord's Supper 87 

Form for Administration of the Lord's Supper 89 

Form for Organization of a Church 96 

Form for Ordination of Elders 100 

Form for Re-installation of Elders 105 

Form for Ordination of Deacons 108 

Form for Laying of a Corner-Stone 112 

Form for Dedication of a Church 116 

Poetical Selections 125 



MARRIAGE. 



FORM I. 

The persons to be married standing together, the man on 
the right hand and the woman on the left, the minister 
shall say : 

Marriage was ordained of God in Eden, and con- 
firmed at the wedding in Cana of Galilee by the 
gracious presence and miraculous blessing of Christ. 
It is to unite two hearts and lives, blending all 
their interests, and sympathies, and hopes. It in- 
volves mutual compromise, loving sufferance and 
holy trust. 

I charge and entreat you, therefore, in entering 
upon and sustaining this hallowed union, to seek 
the favor and blessing of Him whose favor is life : 
whose blessing maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. 

Let us pray. 

I,ord Jesus, we beseech thee, come by thy grace 
to this marriage. And give to these that marry a 
due sense of the obligations they are now to assume. 
With true intent and in utter unreserve of love 
may they plight their troth, and henceforth be helps 
meet for each other, till death do them part. Amen. 

The man and the woman here joining their right hands, 
the minister shall say : 

Do you, M , take this woman whose hand you 

now hold, before God and these witnesses, to be 
your wife ? 

I do. 



2 



MARRIAGE. 



Do you promise to love, honor, sustain and cher- 
ish her, in joy and sorrow, in health and sickness, 
in prosperity and adversity, and to be faithful unto 
her as becometh a good husband, so long as you 
both shall live ? 

I do. 

Do you, N , take this man whose hand you 

now hold, before God and these witnesses, to be 
your husband ? 

I do. 

Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and obey 
him, in joy and sorrow, in health and sickness, in 
prosperity and adversity, and to be faithful unto 
him as becometh a good wife, so long as you both 
shall live ? 

I do. 

[A second form of consenting together and pledging troth 
in holy wedlock is here inserted, to be used in place of the 
above if the parties prefer. 

The man and the woman having joined their right hands, 
the man shall say after the minister : 

I, M , take thee, N , to my wedded wife, to have 

and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for 
richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to 
cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordi- 
nance ; and thereto I plight thee my troth. 
Then the woman shall say after the minister : 

I, N , take thee, M — — , to my wedded husband, to 

have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, 
for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cher- 
ish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's 
holy ordinance ; and thereto I give thee my troth.] 



MARRIAGE. 



3 



If a ring is used the minister shall here say to the man : 
What token do you give in pledge that you will 
faithfully perform these vows ? 

Here the man, without speaking, shall present the ring, 
still holding it in his hand, and the minister shall say 
to the woman ; 

Do you receive this ring in pledge of the same on 
your part ? 

Here the woman, without speaking, shall take the ring, in 
acceptance of the pledge on her part, pass it to the minis- 
ter, and he to the man, thus making the unbroken circle ; 
and the man shall place it upon the third finger of the 
woman's left hand ; when the minister shall say : 

May this ring henceforth be the chaste and 
changeless symbol of your evermore pure and 
changeless affection. 

Here the minister shall say : 

Forasmuch, then, as you, M , and you, N , 

have consented together in holy wedlock, and have 
plighted each to the other your sacred troth, in the 
name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy 
Ghost, I pronounce you husband and wife. Amen. 

What, therefore, God hath joined together, let 
not man put asunder. 

Henceforth, you go down life's way together. 
Let love be the charmed word in the dialect of your 
home and hearts. And may Heaven's constant 
benediction crown your union with ever-increasing 
joy and blessedness, and unite your hearts and lives 
by all the grace and true affection of a happy mar- 
riage. 



4 



MARRIAGE. 



Let us pray. 

O thou, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the God of all comfort, grant now to set thy blessed 
seal upon these nuptials. We thank thee for the tie 
of holy wedlock, and for all the sweet amenities and 
sanctities of love and home that have been born of 
it. May this new marriage bond have thine abun- 
dant favor, making the union of these two hearts 
more and more blessed as the years go by. Let the 
wife be as a fruitful vine by the side of the house, 
and the husband dwell with the wife as a man of 
knowledge, the husband loving the wife, and the 
wife reverencing the husband, according to Thy 
Holy Scripture. May the fellowship of their wedded 
life be the dearer and purer for fellowship with 
Thee, and their love be glorified in Thy love. 

Grant, most gracious Lord, that they may trust 
each other and Thee when the clouds come; that 
they may be patient and gentle amidst fretting and 
worrying cares ; that they may make their pathway 
radiant with the bright shining of good deeds done 
in Thy name and for Thy sake : and living beauti- 
ful lives, may they die the death of the righteous. 

Let Thy benediction, we beseech Thee, rest also 
upon the homes here represented, and upon the 
hearts that lean to this nuptial hour with tender 
interest for the love they have for these that are 
married. 

And permit us all at last to share in the heavenly 
fellowship of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and 
the Bride of the Lamb. Amen. 



MARRIAGE. 



5 



Here the minister shall say : 

The Lord bless you and keep you : the Lord 
make His face to shine upon you and be gracious 
unto you : the Lord lift up His countenance upon 
you and give you peace. Amen. 



FORM II. 

As the parties present themselves to be married the minister 
shall say : 

Marriage is a divine institution, and honorable to 
all who maintain therein a true fidelity. I charge 
you both to seek the help of God in all its duties, 
and to keep with sacred constancy the vows of wed- 
lock you are now to assume. 

Let us pray. 

most holy and merciful Lord God, we beseech 
thee for this man and this woman, that they may 
enter into the covenant of marriage with true hearts, 
and ever cherish each for the other a tender and an 
unalterable affection. We ask it for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 

The man and the woman here joining their right hands, 
the minister shall say to the man : 

Do you, M , take this woman whose hand you 

now hold, before God and these witnesses, to be your 
Wife? 

1 do. 

Do you promise to love, honor, sustain and cher- 
ish her, in joy and sorrow, in health and sickness, 
in prosperity and adversity, and to be faithful unto 



6 



MARRIAGE, 



her as becometh a good husband, so long as you 
both shall live ? 
I do. 

Addressing now the woman, the minister shall say : 

Do you, N , take this man whose hand you 

now hold, before God and these witnesses, to be 
your husband ? 

I do. 

Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and obey 
him, in joy and sorrow, in health and sickness, in 
prosperity and adversity, and to be faithful unto 
him as becometh a good wife, so long as you both 
shall live ? 

I do. 

In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the 
Holy Ghost, I pronounce you husband and wife. 
Amen. 

What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not 
man put asunder. 
Let us pray. 

O God, our heavenly Father, we pray for thy 
gracious blessing upon this marriage. We thank 
thee that thou hast ordained this union of two 
hearts in the sacred bonds of wedlock. Set thy seal 
upon the nuptials that have here been celebrated in 
thy name. Help these that have now been made 
husband and wife to keep, with loving and unbroken 
fidelity, the vows with which they have consented 
together in holy matrimony. May they be true to 
each other and to thee, and at last enter thy blessed 
kingdom : through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



MARRIAGE. 



FORM III. 

ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER AS USED BY THE 
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. 

The persons to be married standing together, the man on 
the right hand and the woman on the left, the Minister 
shall say : 

Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in 
the sight of God, and in the face of this company, 
to join together this man and this woman in holy 
matrimony ; which is commended of St. Paul to be 
honorable among all men ; and therefore is not by 
any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly ; but 
reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the 
fear of God. Into this holy estate these two per- 
sons present come now to be joined. If any man 
can show any just cause why they may not lawfully 
be joined together, let him now speak or else here- 
after forever hold his peace. 

Then shall the Minister say unto the persons who are to be 
married : 

I require and charge you both as ye will answer 
at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of 
all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you 
know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully 
joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it : 
for be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined 
together otherwise than as God's word doth allow, 
their marriage is not lawful. 



8 



MARRIAGE. 



The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the law- 
fulness of the proposed marriage, may demand sufficient 
surety for his indemnification ; but if no impediment 
shall be alleged, or suspected, the Minister shall say to the 
man : 

M. Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded 
wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the 
holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, 
comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and 
in health ; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only 
unto her, so long as ye both shall live ? 

The man shall answer; 
I will. 

Then shall the Minister say unto the woman : 

N. Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded hus- 
band, to live together after God's ordinance, in the 
holy estate of matrimony ? Wilt thou obey him, 
and serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sick- 
ness and in health ; and, forsaking all others, keep 
thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live ? 

The woman shall answer : 
I will. 

Then shall the Minister say : 

Who giveth this woman to be married to this 
man ? 

Then shall they give their troth to each other in this man- 
ner : The Minister, receiving the woman at her father's 
or friend's hands, shall cause the man, with his right 
hand, to take the woman by her right hand, and to say 
after him as follow eth : 

I M. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have 



MARRIAGE. 



9 



and to hold, from this day forward, for better for 
worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, 
to love and to cherish, till death us do part, accord- 
ing to God's holy ordinance ; and thereto I plight 
thee my troth. 

Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman, with her 
right hand taking the man by his right hand, should like- 
wise say af ter the Minister : 

I N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have 
and to hold, from this day forward, for better for 
worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, 
to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, 
according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I 
give thee my troth. 

Then shall they again loose their hands, and the man shall 
give unto the woman a ring, and the Minister, taking the 
ring, shall deliver it unto the man to put it upon the fourth 
finger of the woman's left hand ; and the man, holding 
the ring there, and taught by the Minister, shall say : 

With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly 
goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, and 
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Then the Minister shall say : 
Let us pray. 

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy 
name ; Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done in 
earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily 
bread ; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive 
those who trespass against us. And lead us not 
into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 

O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all man- 



IO 



MARRIAGE. 



kind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of 
everlasting life ; send Thy blessing upon these Thy 
servants, this man and this woman whom we bless 
in Thy name, that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faith- 
fully together, so these persons may surely perform 
and keep the vow and covenant between them made, 
(whereof this Ring given and received is a token 
and pledge), and may ever remain in perfect love 
and peace together, and live according to Thy laws, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Then shall Ihe Minister join their right hands together and 
say : 

Those whom God hath joined together let no man 
put asunder. 

Then shall the Minister speak unto the company : 

Forasmuch as these persons have consented to- 
gether in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same 
before God and this company, and thereto have given 
and pledged their troth each to the other, and have 
declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, 
and by joining hands ; I pronounce that they are 
Man and Wife, in the name of the Father, and of 
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

And the Minister shall add this blessing : 

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy 
Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord 
mercifully with His favor look upon you, and so fill 
you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye 
may so live together in this life, that in the world to 
come ye may have life everlasting. Amen. 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



II 



SELECTIONS OP SCRIPTURE FOR THE 
CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



I. PASTURES. 

The Lord's Word. 

I am the good shepherd. — John x. ii. 
The good shepherd " knoweth his sheep." — John 
x. 14. 

He " calleth them all by name." — John x. 3. 
He " goeth before them." — John x. 4. 
He " giveth his life for them." — John x. ii. 
He " giveth them eternal life." — John x. 28. 
They shall become one flock, one shepherd. — John 
x. 16. 

And they shall never perish. — John x. 28. 
The Soul's Response. 

The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. 
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : 
He leadeth me beside the still waters. 
He restoreth my soul : 

He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his 
name's sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow 
of death, 

I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me : 
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 



12 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of 
mine enemies : 

Thou hast anointed my head with oil ; my cup run- 
neth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the 

days of my life : 
And I will dwell in the house of the I,ord for ever. 

— PSAivM xxiii. 



II. STIU, WATERS. 

Be still, and know that I am God. — Ps. xlvi. 10. 

Thou w 7 ilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind 
is stayed on thee. — Is A. xxvi. 3. 
Thou makest all his bed in his sickness. — Ps. xli. 3. 
For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep. — Ps. cxxvii. 2. 
He maketh the storm a calm, 
So that the w r aves thereof are still. 
Then are they glad because they be quiet ; 
So he bringeth them unto the haven where they 
would be. — Ps. cvii. 29-30. 

There the weary be at rest. — Job iii. 17. 

And he shall wipe away every tear from their 
eyes ; and death shall be no more ; neither shall there 
be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. — 
Rev. xxi. 4. 

And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick. — Isa. 
xxxiii. 24. 

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do 
change, 

And though the mountains be moved in the heart of 
the seas ; 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



13 



Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled : 
Though the mountains shake with the swelling 

thereof. — Ps. xi,vi. 2-3. 
What time I am afraid, 
I will put my trust in thee. — Ps. lvi. 3. 

I will trust, and will not be afraid.— Isa. xii. 2. 
In peace will I both lay me down and sleep : 
For thou, Lord, alone makest me dwell in safety. — 

Ps. iv. 8. 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains : 

From whence shall my help come ? 

My help cometh from the Lord, 

Which made heaven and earth. 

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : 

He that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel 

Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

The Lord is thy keeper : 

The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 

The sun shall not smite thee by day, 

Nor the moon by night. 

The Lord shall keep thee from all evil ; 

He shall keep thy soul. 

The Lord shall keep thy going out and thy com- 
ing in, 

From this time forth and for evermore. — Ps. cxxi. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall 
I fear ? 

The Lord is the strength of my life ; of whom shall 
I be afraid ? 

When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, 



14 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled 
and fell. 

Though an host should encamp against me, 
My heart shall not fear : 
Though war should rise against me, 
Even then will I be confident. 

One thing have I asked of the L,ord, that will I 
seek after ; 

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the 

days of my life, 
To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in 

his temple. 

For in the day of trouble he shall keep me secretly 

in his pavilion : 
In the covert of his tabernacle shall he hide me ; 
He shall lift me up upon a rock. 
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine 

enemies round about me ; 
And I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; 
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. — 

Ps. xxvii. 1-6. 



III. DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS. 

" So they went up to the delectable mountains, to behold 
the gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of 
water : where also they drank and washed themselves, and 
did freely eat of the vineyards. Now there were on the tops 
of these mountains shepherds feeding their flocks. . . . 
These mountains are Immanuel's land, and they are within 
sight of the city." — Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. 

Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



15 



I will get me to the mountain of myrrh. — Cant. iv. 6. 

I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine : 

He feedeth his flock among the lilies. — Cant. vi. 3. 

He giveth power to the faint ; and to him that 
hath no might he increaseth strength. — Isa. xl. 29. 
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their 
wounds. — Ps. cxlvii. 3. 

And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have 
covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may 
plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the 
earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. — 
ISA. li. 16. 

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I 
comfort you. — Isa. lxvi. 13. 

Sing, O heavens ; and be joyful, O earth ; and 
break forth into singing, O mountains : for the Lord 
hath comforted his people, and will have compassion 
upon his afflicted. — Isa. xlix. 13. 

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall 
gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his 
bosom, and shall gently lead those that give suck. 
— Isa. xl. 11. 

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a moun- 
tain great and high, and shewed me the holy city 
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 
having the glory of God. — Rev. xxi. 10. 

And he shewed me a river of water of life, bright 
as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and 
of the Lamb, in the midst of the street thereof. And 
on this side of the river and on that was the tree of 
life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its 
fruit every month : and the leaves of the tree were 



i6 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



for the healing of the nations. And there shall be 
no curse any more : and the throne of God and of the 
Lamb shall be therein : and his servants shall do him 
sendee ; and they shall see his face ; and his name 
shall be on their foreheads. And there shall be 
night no more ; and they need no light of lamp, 
neither light of sun ; for the Lord God shall give 
them light : and they shall reign for ever and ever. 
— R^v.xxii. 1-5. 



IV. THE ENTRANCE GATE. 

These selections are chiefly for those not yet in the fold. 
They are the inviting and assuring words of Scripture to one 
who would "see Jesus." May their use change many a, 
sick-room into a " Bethel," and put "a new song " in the 
mouth. 

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. — Matt.. 
vii. 7. 

Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 
sin of the world ! — John i. 29. 

I am the door : by me if any man enter in, he 
shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall 
find pasture. — John x. 9. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only 
begotten Son, that whosoever belie veth on him 
should not perish, but have eternal life. — John iii. 16. 

And in none other is there salvation : for neither is 
there any other name under heaven, that is given 
among men, wherein we must be saved. — Acts iv. 12. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shall be 
saved. — Acts xvi. 31. 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 17 



Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest.— Matt. xi. 28. 

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and 
drink. — John vii. 37. 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the 
waters, and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy, 
and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without 
money and without price. — Isa. lv. 1. 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and 
they follow me : and I give unto them eternal life ; 
and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch 
them out of my hand. — John x. 27. 

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking 
flax shall he not quench.— Matt. xii. 20. 
, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the 
Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be 
as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, 
they shall be as wool. — Isa. i. 18. 

Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 
—John vi. 37. 

He that will, let him take the water of life freely. 
— Rev. xxii. 17. 

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unright- 
eous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the 
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him ; and to 
our God, for he will abundantly pardon. — Isa. lv. 7. 

And he spake unto them this parable, saying, 
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and 
having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety 
and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which 
is lost, until he find it ? And when he hath found 
it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And 
2 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS. 



when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends 
and his neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with 
me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I 
say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in 
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than 
over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need 
no repentance. — Luke xv. 3-7. 

But when he (the prodigal son) came to himself he 
said, How many hired servants of my father's have 
bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with 
hunger ! I will arise and go to my father, and will 
say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, 
and in thy sight : I am no more worthy to be called 
thy son : make me as one of thy hired servants. And 
he arose, and came to his father. But while he was 
yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved 
with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and 
kissed him. — Luke xv. 17-20. 



V. AT EVENTIDE. 

These selections are for that last hour when the shadows 
are almost at their full lengthening, ere "the silver cord be 
loosed or the golden bowl be broken. ' ' Much speech of man 
seems idle. It is a time for " Jesus only." Some brief word 
of Scripture, whether a cry of need or a cry of trust, spoken 
by the minister and repeated by the dying, may change "the 
valley of weeping" into "a place of springs," and "the 
valley of the shadow of death " into " a garden of spices." 

Lord, save me. — Matt. xiv. 30. 

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. — Acts vii. 59. 

God, be merciful to me a sinner. — Luke xviii. 13. 



CHAMBER OF SICKNESS, 



19 



The blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all 
sin.— 1 John i. 7. 

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ; 
of whom I am chief. — 1 Tim. i. 15. 

Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 
sin of the world ! — John i. 29. 

(Lord) I believe : help thou mine unbelief. — 
Mark ix. 24. 

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. — Ps. lxi. 2. 
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lov- 
ingkindness : 

According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot 

out my transgressions. — Ps. li. 1. 
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 

death, 

I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me : 

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. — Ps. xxiii. 4. 

Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him. — Job 
xiii. 15. 

For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep. — Ps- cxxvii. 2. 
My flesh and my heart faileth : 

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion 
for ever. — Ps. lxxiii. 26. 
Into thy hands I commend my spirit — Luke xxiii. 
46. 

Now lettest thou thy servant depart, O Lord, ac- 
cording to thy word, in peace ; for mine eyes have 
seen thy salvation. — Luke ii. 29. 



20 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



SELECTIONS OF SCRIPTURE FOR THE 
HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



I. EVERLASTING FOUNDATIONS. 

Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, 
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are 
his. — 2 Tim. ii. 19. 

Trust ye in the Lord for ever : for in the Lord 
Jehovah is an everlasting rock (a rock of ages). — 
Is a. xxvi. 4. 

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my de- 
liverer, even mine ; 

The God of my rock, in him will I trust ; 

My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high 
tower, and my refuge. — 2 Sam. xxii. 2-3. 

For who is God, save the Lord ? 

And who is a rock, save our God? 

God is my strong fortress : 

And he guideth the perfect in his way. / 

He maketh his feet like hinds' feet : 

And setteth me upon my high places. — 2 Sam. xxii. 
32-34. 

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation : 
And thy gentleness hath made me great. — 2 Sam. 
xxii. 36. 

But Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an 
everlasting salvation : ye shall not be ashamed nor 
confounded world without end. — Isa. xlv. 17. 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



21 



In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for 
a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I 
have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer. 
—ISA. liv. 8. 

The eternal God is thy dwelling place, 
And underneath are the everlasting arms.— Deut. 
xxxiii. 27. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea 
and for ever. — Heb. xiii. 8. 
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, 
And from the River unto the ends of the earth. 
They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before 
him ; 

And his enemies shall lick the dust. — Ps. lxxii. 8-9. 
His name shall endure for ever. — Ps. lxxii. 17. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay 
in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a 
precious corner stone of sure foundation : he that be- 
lieve th shall not make haste. Is a. xxviii. 16. 

For other foundation can no man lay than that 
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. — 1 Cor. iii. 11. 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High 

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my 

fortress ; 
My God, in whom I trust. 

For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, 

And from the noisome pestilence. 

He shall cover thee with his pinions, 

And under his wings shalt thou take refuge : 

His truth is a shield and a buckler. 



22 



HOUSE OF MOURNING, 



Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, 
Nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; 
For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, 
Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 
A thousand shall fall at thy side, 
And ten thousand at thy right hand ; 
But it shall not come nigh thee. 
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, 
And see the reward of the wicked. 
For thou, O Lord, art my refuge ! 
Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation ; 
There shall no evil befall thee, 
Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, 
To keep thee in all thy ways. 
They shall bear thee up in their hands, . 
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder : 
The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample 
under feet. 

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will 

I deliver him : 
I will set him on high, because he hath known my 

name. 

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him ; 

I will be with him in trouble : 

I will deliver him, and honour him. 

With long life will I satisfy him, 

And shew him my salvation. — Ps. xci. 

God is our refuge and strength, 
A very present help in trouble. 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



23 



Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do 
change, 

And though the mountains be moved in the heart of 
the seas ; 

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, 
Though the mountains shake with the swelling 
thereof. 

There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the 
city of God, 

The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 
God is in the midst of her ; she shall not be moved : 
God shall help her and that right early. 
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved : 
He uttered his voice, the earth melted. 
The Lord of hosts is with us ; 
The God of Jacob is our refuge. 
Come, behold the works of the Lord, 
What desolations he hath made in the earth. 
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth : 
He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in 
sunder ; 

He burneth the chariots in the fire. 
Be still, and know that I am God : 
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted 

in the earth. 
The Lord of hosts is with us : 
The God of Jacob is our refuge. — Ps. xlvi. 

And we know that to them that love God all 
things work together for good, even to them that 
are called according to his purpose. For whom he 
foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to 



24 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn 
among many brethren : and whom he foreordained, 
them he also called : and whom he called, them he 
also justified : and whom he justified, them he also 
glorified. 

What then shall we say to these things ? If God 
is for us, who is against us ? He that spared not his 
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall 
he not also with him freely give us all things ? Who 
shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It 
is God that justifieth ; who is he that shall condemn ? 
It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was 
raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of 
God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who 
shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribu- 
lation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or 
nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Even as it is written, 

For thy sake we are killed all the day long ; 
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquer- 
ors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded 
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principali- 
ties, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other crea- 
ture, shall be able to separate us from the love of 
God, which is in Christ Jesus our L,ord. — Rom. viii. 
28-39. 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



25 



II. EXCEEDING GREAT PROMISES. 

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is 
God ; the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and 
mercy with them that love him and keep his com- 
mandments to a thousand generations. — Deut. vii. 9. 

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : for 
when he hath been approved, he shall receive the 
crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that 
love him. — James i. 12. 

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid 

up for them that fear thee, 
Which thou hast wrought for them that put their 

trust in thee, before the sons of men ! 
In the covert of thy presence shalt thou hide them 

from the plottings of man : 
Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the 

strife of tongues. — Ps. xxxi. 19-20. 
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear 

him, 

Upon them that hope in his mercy ; 

To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them 

alive in famine. — Ps. xxxiii. 18-19. 
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them 

that fear him, 
And delivereth them. — Ps. xxxiv. 7. 
Like as a father pitieth his children, 
So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. — Ps. ciii. 13. 

And their soul shall be as a watered garden. — ■ 
JER. xxxi. 12. 



26 HO USE OF MO URNING. 



They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 
Though he goeth on his way weeping, bearing forth 
the seed ; 

He shall come again with joy, bringing his sheaves 

with him. — Ps. cxxvi. 5-6. 
Call upon me in the day of trouble ; 
I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. — Ps. 

1. 15. 

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water- 
spouts : 

All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 
Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in 

the day-time, 
And in the night his song shall be with me, 
Even a prayer unto the God of my life. — Ps. xlii. 7-8. 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon 
you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in 
heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For 
my yoke is easy and my burden is light. — Matt. 
xi. 28-30. 

When thou passest through the waters, I will be 
with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not 
overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire, 
thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall the flame 
kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the 
Holy One of Israel, thy saviour. — Isa. xliii. 2-3. , 

Certainly I will be with thee. — Exodus iii. 12. 

I will commune with thee from above the mercy- 
seat.— Exodus xxv. 22. 

I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee. — 
Isa. xli. 10. 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



27 



Let not your heart be troubled. — John xiv. 1. 

I will not leave you desolate : I come unto you. 
—John xiv. 18. 

I come again, and will receive you unto myself; 
that where I am, there ye may be also. — John xiv. 3. 



III. SAFE HIDING PLACES. 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower : 

The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. — Pro v. 

xviii. 10. 
God is our refuge and strength, 
A very present help in trouble. — Ps. xlvi. 1. 
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me ; 
For my soul taketh refuge in thee : 
Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, 
Until these calamities be overpast. — Ps. lvii. j. 
It is better to trust in the Lord 
Than to put confidence in man. 
It is better to trust in the Lord 
Than to put confidence in princes. — Ps. cxviii. 8-9. 
They that trust in the Lord 

Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but 

abideth for ever. — Ps. cxxv. 1. 
Be thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may 

continually resort. — Ps. lxxi. 3. 
Keep me as the apple of the eye, 
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings. — Ps. xvii. 8. 
Thou art my hiding place ; thou wilt preserve me 

from trouble ; 



28 



HOUSE OF MOURNING, 



Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliver- 
ance. — Ps. xxxii. 7. 
In the Lord put I my trust : 
How say ye to my soul, 

Flee as a bird to your mountain ? — Ps. xi. 1. 
The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall 
I fear? 

The Lord is the strength of my life ; of whom shall 

I be afraid? — Ps. xxvii. 1. 
For in the day of trouble he shall keep me secretly 

in his pavilion : 
In the covert of his tabernacle shall he hide me. — 

Ps. xxvii. 5. 

For the Lord God is a sun and a shield. — Ps. 
Ixxxiv. 11. 



IV. PRECIOUS CONSOLATIONS. 

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord. 
— Ps. xciv. 12. 

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : for 
when he hath been approved, he shall receive the 
crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that 
love him. — James i. 12. 

In the world ye have tribulation : but be of good 
cheer ; I have overcome the world. — John xvi. 33. 
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sus- 
tain thee : 

He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. — 
Ps. lv. 22. 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



29 



And not only so, but let us also rejoice in our 
tribulations : knowing that tribulation worketh pa- 
tience ; and patience, probation ; and probation, 
hope : and hope putteth not to shame ; because the 
love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts 
through the Holy Ghost which was given unto us. — 
Rom. v. 3-5. 

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, 
worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eter- 
nal weight of glory ; while we look not at the things 
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen : 
for the things which are seen are temporal ; but the 
things which are not seen are eternal. — 2 Cor. iv. 
17-18. 

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery 
trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove 
you, as though a strange thing happened unto you : 
but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffer- 
ings, rejoice ; that at the revelation of his glory also 
ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. — 1 Pkt. iv. 12- 
13. 

When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt 
not be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon 
thee*, — Isa. xliii. 2. 

Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver ; I 
have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. — Isa. 
xlviii. 10. 

My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the 
IyOrd, 

Nor faint when thou art reproved of him ; 
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, 
And scourge th every son whom he receiveth. 



3° 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



It is for chastening that ye endure ; God dealeth 
with you as with sons ; for what son is there whom 
his father chasteneth not ? But if ye are without 
chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, 
then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, 
we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we 
gave them reverence : shall we not much rather be 
in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live ? 
For they verily for a few days chastened us as seemed 
good to them ; but he for our profit, that we may be 
partakers of his holiness. All chastening seemeth 
for the present to be not joyous, but grievous : yet 
afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that 
have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of right- 
eousness. — Hkb. xii. 5-1 1. 

The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, 
that we are children of God : and if children, then 
heirs ; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ ; 
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be 
also glorified with him. 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present 
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory 
which shall be revealed to us-ward. — Rom. viii. 
16-18. 

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, 
These which are arrayed in the white robes, who 
are they, and whence came they ? And I say unto 
him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, 
These are they which come out of the great tribula- 
tion, and they washed their robes, and made them 
white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they 
before the throne of God ; and they serve him day 



HOUSE OF MOURNING. 



3* 



and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the 
throne shall spread his tabernacle over them. They 
shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; 
neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any 
heat : for the Lamb which is in the midst of the 
throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them 
unto fountains of waters of life : and God shall wipe 
away every tear from their eyes. — Rev. vii. 13-17. 



32 



BURIAL. 



BURIAL. 

Form for Burial of the Dead. 



I. THE SERVICE AT THE CHURCH. 

As the body is borne to its place before the pulpit, the minis 
ter shall say : 

I am the resurrection and the life : he that be- 
lieveth on me, though he die, yet shall he live : 
and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall 
never die. — John xi. 25, 26. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all com- 
fort ; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we 
may be able to comfort them that are in any afflic- 
tion, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves 
are comforted. — 2 Cor. i. 3, 4. 

When the assembly is seated and ready for service the min- 
ister shall say : 

Let us pray . 

Almighty God, the framer of our bodies and the 
Father of our spirits, we enter thy courts with 
bowed and burdened hearts this day. But our hope 
is in thee. To whom shall we go, but to thee. 
Thou hast the words of eternal life. Vouchsafe thy 
comforting and guiding Spirit, as we are met for this 



BURIAL. 



33 



tender and solemn service in the presence of the 
dead. Let not our eyes be so holden with grief that 
we cannot read the truth thou wouldst teach us by 
this affliction. And may we be sanctified in all the 
discipline of thy providence, through Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 

Here, if desired, a hymn may be sung. 

Then shall be read such portions of Scripture as may be 
most appropriate to the specific circumstances. 

[ Varied selections for this purpose, both of disconnected 
single verses and of connected passages, will be found fol- 
lowing this order of service. ~\ 

After the reading of the Scripture the minister shall make 
an address suited to the occasion, provided any remarks at 
all are judged to be desirable. 

Then shall follow the prayer, the special features of which 
must be largely determined by the distinctive features of the 
providence that has brought the people to the house of 
mourning. Hence no form of prayer is here given. But 
manifestly, in the presence of death, the prayer should em- 
brace acknowledgment of God's sovereign mercy, confession 
of sin, submission to the divine will, thanksgiving for the 
victory over death wrought by the gospel, and trustful com- 
mitment of bereaved and smitten hearts to the infinitely 
tender and gracious care of the Saviour. 

Then another hymn shall be sung, after which the congre- 
gation shall be dismissed with the apostolic benediction. 

3 



34 



BURIAL, 



H. ORDER OF SERVICE AT A PRIVATE HOUSE. 

Invocation. 

Reading of Scripture. See pp. 36-73. 

Singing (if previously arranged for). See pp. 
125-134. 

Remarks (if thought desirable). 

Prayer. 

Benediction. 



III. FORM FOR SERVICE AT THE GRAVE. 

After the body has been placed in the grave the minister 
shall say (if the dead be one that has "fallen asleep in 
Jesus ") .* 

Here we pay the last rites of the living to the de- 
parted : earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. 
In committing this body to the grave, the dust 
returns to the earth as it was. The spirit has gone 
to God who gave it. I heard a voice from heaven 
saying, ' ' Write : Blessed are the dead which die in 
the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, 
that they may rest from their labors ; for their works 
follow with them." For them that sleep in Jesus 
shall God bring with him : and over such the second 
death hath no power. 

Or this (if the dead be not kfiown as a believer) : 

Here we commit the body to its kindred dust — 
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The 



BURIAL. 



35 



spirit we leave with God. This is the end of all the 
living. May the living lay it to heart. As there is 
no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in 
the grave whither we go, and as we know that God 
will bring us to death— to the house appointed for 
all living ; let us here renewedly consecrate ourselves 
to do with our might what our hands find to do. 
And may our trust be in Him who said, 1 ' I am the 
resurrection and the life. He that believeth on me, 
though he die, yet shall he live. And whosoever 
liveth and believeth in me shall never die." 

Let us pray. 

We thank thee, O Lord, that thou art the resur- 
rection and the life. And that thou hast been 
declared to be the Son of God with power by the 
resurrection of the dead. We rejoice in the blessed 
hope born of thy resurrection victory. May it be 
our stay and comfort, as we stand by this fresh-made 
grave where we have laid our beloved dead. Hence- 
forth living godly and obedient lives, may thy grace 
enable us to die the death of the righteous. And 
when the earthly house of this tabernacle is dis- 
solved, let us have a building of God, a house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Amen. 

The Lord bless you and keep you, bereaved and 
srriitten hearts. The Lord make his face shine upon 
you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up 
his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

And the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
be with you all. Amen. 



36 



BURIAL. 



SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS FOR FUNERAL 
SERVICE. 

[God's Word, in its undisturbed and inspired connections, 
will always be of unspeakable comfort and profit. But to 
insist that continuous passages only shall have use in the 
burial of the dead, would be to miss some of the rarest 
words of consolation and hope in all the Scriptures. In 
the selections that follow it has been the aim to realize the 
advantages of both methods, care havi?ig been taken that 
the isolated gems gathered from out God' s precious casket 
of jewels should not be flung indiscriminately before the 
reader, but given an appropriate setting.] 

I. FOR A CHILD. 

My beloved is gone down to his garden ... to 
gather lilies.— Sol. Song vi. 2. 

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall 
gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his 
bosom. — Is A. xl. 11. 

In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, say- 
ing, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven ? 
And he called to him a little child, and set him' in 
the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, 
Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye 
shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this 
little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom 
of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little 
child in my name receiveth me : but whoso shall 
cause one of these little ones which believe on me to 
stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone 



BURIAL. 



37 



should be hanged about his neck, and that he should 
be sunk in the depth of the sea. — Matt, xviii. 1-6. 

See that ye despise not one of these little ones ; 
for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do 
always behold the face of my Father which is in 
heaven. How think ye ? if any man have a hun- 
dred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth 
he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the 
mountains, and seek that which goeth astray ? And 
if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he 
rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine 
which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the 
will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of 
these little ones should perish. — Matt, xviii. 10-14. 

And they brought unto him also their babes, that 
he should touch them : but when the disciples saw 
it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto 
him, saying, ' Suffer the little children to come unto 
me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom 
of God. — Luke xviii. 15-16. 

Thus saith the Lord : A voice is heard in Ramah, 
lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for 
her children ; she refuseth to be comforted for Jier 
children, because they are not. Thus saith the 
Lord : Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine 
eyes from tears : for thy work shall be rewarded, 
saith the Lord ; and they shall come again from the 
land of the enemy. And there is hope for thy latter 
end, saith the Lord ; and thy children shall come 
again to their own border. — Jkr. xxxi. 15-17. 

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys 
and girls playing in the streets thereof. — Zech. viii 5. 



38 



BURIAL. 



Wait on the Lord : 

Be strong, and let thine heart take courage ; 
Yea, wait thou on the Lord. — Ps. xxvii. 14. 

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of 
trouble ; and he knoweth them that put their trust 
in him. — Nahum i. 7. 

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken 
heart, 

And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. — Ps. 

xxxiv. 18. 
Like as a father pitieth his children, 
So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 
For he knoweth our frame ; 

He remembereth that we are dust. — Ps. ciii. 13-14. 

O Lord, be gracious unto us ; we have waited for 
thee : be thou their arm every morning, our salvation 
also in the time of trouble. — Is a. xxxiii. 2. 

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; 
blessed be the name of the Lord. — Job i. 21. 

FOR A CHILD. 

And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife 
bare unto David, and it was very sick. David there- 
fore besought God for the child ; and David fasted, 
and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And 
the elders of his house arose, and stood beside him, 
to raise him up from the earth : but he would not, 
neither did he eat bread with them. And it came to 
pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And 
the servants of David feared to tell him that the 
child was dead : for they said, Behold, while the 
child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he 



BURIAL. 



39 



hearkened not unto our voice : how will he then vex 
himself, if we tell him that the child is dead ? But 
when David saw that his servants whispered to- 
gether, David perceived that the child was dead : 
and David said unto his servants, Is the child dead ? 
And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from 
the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and 
changed his apparel ; and he came into the house of 
the IyORD, and worshipped : then he came to his own 
house ; and when he required they set bread before 
him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto 
him, What thing is this that thou hast done ? thou 
didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive ; 
but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat 
bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I 
fasted and wept : for I said, Who knoweth whether 
the Lord will not be gracious to me, that the child 
may live ? But now he is dead, wherefore should I 
fast ? can I bring it back again ? I shall go to him, 
but he shall not return to me. — 2 Sam. xii. 15-23. 

Suffer the little children to come unto me ; forbid 
them not : for of such is the kingdom of God. 
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive 
the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no 
wise enter therein. And he took them in his arms, 
and blessed them, laying his hands upon them. — 
Mark x. 14-16. 

He shall gather the lambs in his arm, and carry 
them in his bosom. — Isa. xl. 11. 

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any 
more ; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor 
any heat. — Rev. vii. 16. 



4Q 



BURIAL. 



And he shall wipe away every tear from their 
eyes ; and death shall be no more ; neither shall 
there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. 
— Rev. xxi. 4. 

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 
— 1 Thkss. iv. 18. 

My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, 
Nor faint when thou art reproved of him ; 
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, 
And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. — Hkb. 
xii. 5-6. 

Furthermore, w r e had the fathers of our flesh to 
chasten us, and w T e gave them reverence : shall we 
not much rather be in subjection unto the Father 
of spirits, and live ? For they verily for a few days 
chastened us as seemed good to them ; but he for 
our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. 
All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joy- 
ous, but grievous : yet afterward it yieldeth peace- 
able fruit unto them that have been exercised there- 
b}^, even the fruitoi righteousness. — Hkb. xii. 9-1 1. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort ; 
who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may 
be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, 
through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are 
comforted of God. — 2 Cor. i. 3-4. 

FOR A child. 
Boast not thyself of to-morrow ; 
For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 
— Prov. xxvii. 1. 



BURIAL. 



41 



Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy 
youth, or ever the evil days come, and the years 
draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure 
in them ; or ever the sun, and the light, and the 
moon, and the stars, be darkened, and the clouds 
return after the rain : in the day when the keepers 
of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall 
bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they 
are few, and those that look out of the windows be 
darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the street ; 
when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall 
rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters 
of music shall be brought low ; yea, they shall be 
afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in 
the way ; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the 
grasshopper shall be a burden, and the caper-berry 
shall fail : because man goeth to his long home, and 
the mourners go about the streets : or ever the silver 
cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the 
pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel 
broken at the cistern ; and the dust return to the 
earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who 
gave it. — Ecc xii. 1-7. 

Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we 
will go into this city, and spend a year there, and 
trade, and get gain : whereas ye know not what shall 
be on the morrow. What is your life ? For ye are 
a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then 
vanisheth away. — James iv. 13-14. 

As for man, his days are as grass ; 

As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 



42 



BURIAL. 



For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; 

And the place thereof shall know it no more. 

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to 

everlasting upon them that fear him, 
And his righteousness unto children's children ; 
To such as keep his covenant, 

And to those that remember his precepts to do them. 

— Ps. ciii. 15-18. 
The Lord is full of compassion and gracious, 
Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 
He will not alwa}^s chide ; 
Neither will he keep his anger for ever. 
He hath not dealt w T ith us after our sins, 
Nor rewarded us after our iniquities. 
For as the heaven is high above the earth, 
So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 
As far as the east is from the west, 
So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 
Like as a father pitieth his children, 
So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 
For he knoweth our frame ; 

He remembereth that we are dust. — Ps. ciii. 8-14. 

And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went 
to a city called Nain ; and his disciples went with 
him, and a great multitude. Now when he drew near 
to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out 
one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and 
she w T as a widow : and much people of the city was 
with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had 
compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 
And he came nigh and touched the bier : and the 



BURIAL. 



43 



bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say 
unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, 
and began to speak. And he gave him to his 
mother. — I/uke vii. 11-15. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea 
and for ever. — Heb. xiii. 8. 
He is our peace. — Eph. ii. 14. 

And turneth the shadow of death into the morning. 
— Amos v. 8. 

He will be our guide even unto death. — Ps. xlviii. 14. 
For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep. — Ps. 
cxxvii. 2. 

II. FOR THE AGED. 

And Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a 
good old age, an old man, and full of years ; and was 
gathered to his people. — Gen. xxv. 8-10. 

And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was 
gathered unto his people, old and full of days. — 
Gen. xxxv. 29. 

So Job died, being old and full of days. — Job xlii. 17. 

Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace ; thou shalt 
be buried in a good old age. — Gen. xv. 15. 
Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, 
Like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season. — 

Job v. 26. 
The hoary head is a crown of glory, 
It shall be found in the way of righteousness. — 
Prov. xvi. 31. 

Even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs 
will I carry you : I have made, and I will bear ; yea, 
I will carry, and will deliver. — Is A. xlvi. 4. 



44 



BURIAL. 



Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty : they 
shall behold a far stretching land. — Is A. xxxiii. 17. 

Thus saith the Lord of hosts : There shall yet 
old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jeru- 
salem, every man with his staff in his hand for very 
age. — Zech. viii. 4. 

And the work of righteousness shall be peace ; 
and the effect of righteousness quietness and confi- 
dence for ever. — Isa. xxxii. 17. 

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place 
In all generations. 

Before the mountains were brought forth, 

Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, 

Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

Thou turnest man to destruction ; 

And sayest, Return, ye children of men. 

For a thousand years in thy sight 

Are but as yesterday when it is past, 

And as a watch in the night. 

Thou earnest them away as with a flood ; they are 
as a sleep : 

In the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up ; 
In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 
For we are consumed in thine anger, 
And in thy wrath are we troubled. 
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, 
Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath : 
We bring our years to an end as a tale that is told. 
The days of our years are threescore }^ears and ten, 



BURIAL. 45 

Or even by reason of strength fourscore years ; 
Yet is their pride but labour and sorrow ; 
For it is soon gone, and we fly away. 
Who knoweth the power of thine anger, 
And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto 
thee ? 

So teach us to number our days, 

That we may get us an heart of wisdom. 

Return, O L,ord ; how long ? 

And let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 

O satisfy us in the morning with thy mercy ; 

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

Make us glad according to the days wherein thou 

hast afflicted us, 
And the years wherein we have seen evil. 
L,et thy work appear unto thy servants, 
And thy glory upon their children. 
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us : 
And establish thou the work of our hands upon us ; 
Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. — Ps. 

xc. 



III. god's comfort. 

Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be 
comforted. — Matt. v. 4. 

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your 
God. — Isa. xl. 1. 

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; because 
the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings 
unto the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the 



46 



BURIAL. 



brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, 
and the opening of the prison to them that are 
bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, 
and the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort 
all that mourn ; to appoint unto them that mourn in 
Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil 
of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the 
spirit of heaviness ; that they might be called trees 
of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he 
might be glorified. — Isa. lxi. 1-3. 

Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, the Holy One 
of Israel : I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth 
thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that 
thou shouldest go. — Is A. xlviii. 17. 

And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I 
will bring you into the bond of the covenant. — 

EZEK. XX. 37. 

And thou shalt consider in thine heart, that, as a 
man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chas- 
teneth thee. — Deut. viii. 5. 

And I will bring the third part through the fire, 
and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try 
them as gold is tried : they shall call on my name, 
and I will hear them : I will say, It is my people ; 
and they shall say, The Lord is my God. — Zech. 
xiii. 9. 

Fear not, for I have redeemed thee ; I have called 
thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou pass- 
est through the w r aters, I w T ill be with thee ; and 
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : 
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not 
be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 



BURIAL. 



47 



For I am the L,ord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, 
thy saviour. — Is A. xliii. 1-3. 

For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but 
with great mercies will I gather thee. In overflow- 
ing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment ; but 
with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, 
saith the L,ord thy redeemer. For the mountains 
shall depart, and the hills be removed ; but my kind- 
ness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my 
covenant of peace be removed, saith the L,ord that 
hath mercy on thee. — Isa. liv. 7-8, 10. 

Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; be not dis- 
mayed, for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee ; 
yea, I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold thee with 
the right hand of my righteousness. — Isa. xli. 10. 

I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any 
wise forsake thee. — Hkb. xiii. 5. 

As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. — Rbv. 
iii. 19. 

And ye therefore now have sorrow : but I will see 
you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy 
no one taketh away from you. — John xvi. 22. 

My grace is sufficient for thee : for my power is 
made perfect in weakness. — 2 Cor. xii. 9. 

I, even T, am he that comforteth you. — Isa. li. 12. 

These things have I spoken unto you, that in me 
ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribula- 
tion : but be of good cheer ; I have overcome the 
world. — John xvi. 33. 

Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give unto 
you : not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let 
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. 
— John xiv. 27. 



4 8 



BURIAL. 



I am the resurrection, and the life : he that be- 
lieveth on me, though he die, yet shall he live : and 
whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never 
die. — John xi. 25-26. 

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : 
Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the 

Almighty. 
For he maketh sore and bindeth up ; 
He woundeth, and his hands make whole. 
He shall deliver thee in six troubles ; 
Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. — Job 

v. 17-19. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? 
shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or 
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in 
all these things we are more than conquerors through 
him that loved us. — Rom. viii. 35, 37. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all com- 
fort ; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we 
ma}^ be able to comfort them that are in any afflic- 
tion, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves 
are comforted of God. — 2 Cor. i. 3-4. 



IV. SOVEREIGNTY. 

Be still, and know that I am God. — Ps. xlvi. 10. 

He doeth according to his will in the army of 
heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth : 
and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What 
doest thou ?— Dan. iv. 35. 



BURIAL, 



49 



Who hath directed the spirit of the I/)RD, or 
being his counsellor hath taught him ? With whom 
took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught 
him the path of judgment, and taught him knowl- 
edge, and shewed to him the way of understanding ? 
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and 
are counted as the small dust of the balance : be- 
hold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 
To whom then will ye liken God ? or what likeness 
will ye compare unto him? It is he that sitteth 
upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants 
thereof are as grasshoppers ; that stretcheth out the 
heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a 
tent to dwell in. — ISA. xl. 13-15, 18, 22. 
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, 
And the breath of all mankind. — Job xii. 10. 
The bows of the mighty men are broken, 
And they that stumbled are girded with strength. 
The Lord killeth, and maketh alive : 
He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 
The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich : 
He bringeth low, he also lifteth up. 
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, 
And he hath set the world upon them. 
He will keep the feet of his holy ones. — iSAM.ii. 4, 6-9. 
Before the mountains were brought forth, 
Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, 
Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 
Thou turnest man to destruction ; 
Andsayest, Return, ye children of men. — Ps. xc. 2-3. 
Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God ; 
Thy judgments are a great deep. — Ps. xxxvi. 6. 
4 



BURIAL. 



The Lord reigneth ; let the earth rejoice ; 
Let the multitude of isles be glad. 
Clouds and darkness are round about him : 
Righteousness and judgment are the foundation 
of his throne. — Ps. xcvii. 1-2. 

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom 
and the knowledge of God ! how unsearchable 
are his judgments, and his ways past tracing 
out ! For who hath known the mind of the 
Lord ? or who hath been his counsellor ? or who 
hath first given to him, and it shall be recom- 
pensed unto him again ? For of him, and through 
him, and unto him, are all things. To him be 
the glory for ever. Amen. — Rom. xi. 33-36. 

Trust ye in the Lord for ever : for in the 
Lord Jehovah is an everlasting rock (a rock of 
ages). — Isa. xxvi. 4. 

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants : 
And none of them that trust in him shall be 

condemned. — Ps. xxxiv. 22. 
The name of the Lord is a strong tower : 
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. — Prov. 

xviii. 10. 

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence : 
And his children shall have a place of refuge. — 
Prov. xiv. 26. 
Hast thou not known ? hast thou not heard ? the 
everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends 
of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary ; there is no 
searching of his understanding. He giveth power 
to the faint; and to him that hath no might he 
increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint 



BURIAL. 



51 



and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fail : 
but they that wait upon the L,ord shall renew their 
strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; 
they shall run, and not be weary ; they shall walk, 
and not faint. — Isa. xl. 28-31. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 

shadow of death, 
I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me : 
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. — Ps. xxiii. 4. 
Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. — Ps. 

ii. 12. 



V. MORTALITY. 

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place 
In all generations. 

Before the mountains were brought forth, 

Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, 

Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

Thou turnest man to destruction ; 

And sayest, Return, ye children of men. 

For a thousand years in thy sight 

Are but as yesterday when it is past, 

And as a watch in the night. 

Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; they are 
as a sleep : 

In the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up ; 
In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 
For we are consumed in thine anger, 
And in thy wrath are we troubled. 
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, 



52 



BURIAL. 



Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath : 
We bring our years to an end as a tale that is told. 
The days of our years are threescore years and ten, 
Or even by reason of strength fourscore years ; 
Yet is their pride but labour and sorrow ; 
For it is soon gone, and we fly away. 
Who knoweth the power of thine anger, 
And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto 
thee? 

So teach us to number our days, 

That we ma}" get us an heart of wisdom. 

Return, O Lord ; how long ? 

And let it repent thee concerning thy sen-ants. 

O satisfy us in the morning with thy mercy ; 

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

Make us glad according to the days wherein thou 

hast afflicted us, 
And the years wherein we have seen evil. 
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, 
And thy glory upon their children. 
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us : 
And establish thou the work of our hands upon us ; 
Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. — Ps. xc. 

Man that is born of a woman 

Is of few days, and full of trouble. 

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down : 

He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. — 

Job xiv. 1-2. 
As for man, his days are as grass ; 
As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 



BURIAL. 



53 



For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; 
And the place thereof shall know it no more. — Ps. 
ciii. 15-16. 

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, 
Because our days upon earth are a shadow.) — Job 
viii. 9. 

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. — Job 
vii. 6. 

Now my days are swifter than a post : 
They flee away, they see no good. 
They are passed away as the swift ships : 
As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. — Job ix. 
25-26. 

My days are like a shadow that decline th.— Ps. 
cii. 11. 

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of 
him ? 

Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him ? 
Man is like to vanity : 

His days are as a shadow that passeth away. — Ps. 
cxliv. 3-4. 

The voice of one saying, Cry. And one said, 
What shall I cry ? All flesh is grass, and all the 
goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field : the 
grass wi there th, the flower fadeth ; because the breath 
of the Lord bloweth upon it : surely the people is 
grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth : but 
the word of our God shall stand for ever. — Isa. xl. 6-8. 

Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we 
will go into this city, and spend a year there, and 
trade, and get gain : whereas ye know not what shall 
be on the morrow. What is your life ? For ye are 



54 



BURIAL. 



a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then 
vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the 
Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that. — 
Jas. iv. 13-15. 

There is no man that hath power over the spirit 
to retain the spirit ; neither hath he power over the 
day of death ; and there is no discharge in that war. 
— Ecc. viii. 8. 

Lord, make me to know mine end, 
And the measure of my days, what it is ; 
Let me know how frail I am. 

Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths ; 
And mine age is as nothing before thee : 
Surely every man at his best estate is altogether 
vanity. 

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew : 

Surely they are disquieted in vain : 

He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall 

gather them. 
And now, Lord, what wait I for ? 
My hope is in thee. — Ps. xxxix. 4-7. 
Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, 
Even the God who is our salvation. 
God is unto us a God of deliverances ; 
And unto Jehovah the Lord belong the issues from 

death. — Ps. lxviii. 19-20. 
Let me die the death of the righteous, 
And let my last end be like his ! — Numb, xxiii. 10. 

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 
even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will 
God bring with him. — 1 Thess. iv. 14. 



BURIAL. 



55 



VI. CHASTENING. 

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed 
about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside 
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset 
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set 
before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter 
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him 
endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat 
down at the right hand of the throne of God. For 
consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of 
sinners against themselves, that ye wax not weary, 
fainting in your souls. Ye have not yet resisted 
unto blood, striving against sin : and ye have forgot- 
ten the exhortation, which reasoneth with you as 
with sons, 

My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the 
Lord, 

Nor faint when thou art reproved of him ; 
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, 
And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

It is for chastening that ye endure ; God dealeth 
with you as with sons ; for what son is there whom 
his father chasteneth not? But if ye are without 
chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, 
then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, 
we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and 
we gave them reverence : shall we not much rather 
be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 
For they verily for a few days chastened us as seemed 
good to them ; but he for our profit, that we may be 



56 



BURIAL. 



partakers of his holiness. All chastening seemeth 
for the present to be not joyous, but grievous ; yet 
afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that 
have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of right- 
eousness. — Hkb. xii. i-ii. 

For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but 
with great mercies will I gather thee. In overflow- 
ing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment ; 
but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on 
thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer. For this is as 
the waters of Noah unto me : for as I have sworn 
that the waters of Noah should no more go over the 
earth, so have I sw 7 orn that I would not be wroth 
with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains 
shall depart, and the hills be removed ; but my kind- 
ness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my 
covenant of peace be removed, saith the Lord that 
hath mercy on thee. 

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not 
comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair 
colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 
And I will make thy pinnacles of rubies, and thy 
gates of carbuncles, and all thy border of pleasant 
stones. — Isa. liv. 7-12. 
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, 
So panteth my soul after thee, O God. 
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God : 
When shall I come and appear before God ? 
My tears have been my meat day and night, 
While they continually say unto me, Where is thy 
God? 



BURIAL, 



57 



These things I remember, and pour out my soul 
within me, 

How I went with the throng, and led them to the 
house of God, 

With the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keep- 
ing holyday. 

Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? 

And why art thou disquieted within me ? 

Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him 

For the health of his countenance. 

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water- 
spouts : 

All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 
Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in 

the day-time, 
And in the night his song shall be with me, 
Even a prayer unto the God of my life. — Ps. xlii. 

i-5, 7-8. 
Will the Lord cast off for ever ? 
And will he be favorable no more ? 
Is his mercy clean gone for ever ? 
Doth his promise fail for evermore ? 
Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? 
Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies ? 
And I said, This is my infirmity ; 
But I will remember the years of the right hand of 

the Most High. 
I will make mention of the deeds of the Lord ; 
For I will remember thy wonders of old. 
I will meditate also upon all thy work, 
And muse on thy doings. — Ps. lxxvii. 7-12. 
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning ; 



53 



BURIAL. 



For in thee do I trust : 

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk ; 
For I lift up my soul unto thee. 
Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : 
I flee unto thee to hide me. 
Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God : 
Thy spirit is good ; lead me in the land of upright- 
ness. 

Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake : 

In thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. 

Ps. cxliii. 8-1 1. 
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest. — Ps. 

xciv. 12. 

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : 
Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the 

Almighty. 
For he maketh sore, and bindeth up ; 
He woundeth, and his hands make whole. 
He shall deliver thee in six troubles ; 
Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. — Job 

v. 17-19. 



VII. GODLY SORROW. 

Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, 
a repentance which bringeth no regret : but the 
sorrow of the world worketh death. — 2 Cor. vii. 10. 

And not only so, but let us also rejoice in our 
tribulations : knowing that tribulation worketh 
patience ; and patience, probation ; and probation, 
hope : and hope putteth not to shame ; because the 
love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts 



BURIAL. 



59 



through the Holy Ghost which was given unto us. 
— Rom. v. 3-5. 

Wherefore we faint not ; but though our outward 
man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day 
by day. For our light affliction, which is for the 
moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly 
an eternal weight of glory ; while we look not at 
the things which are seen, but at the things which 
are not seen : for the things which are seen are tem- 
poral ; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 
— 2 Cor. iv. 16-18. 
Before I was afflicted I went astray ; 
But now I observe thy word. 
It is good for me that I have been afflicted ; 
That I might learn thy statutes. — Ps. cxix. 67, 71. 
When he slew them, then they inquired after him : 
And they returned and sought God early. 
And they remembered that God was their rock, 
And the Most High God their redeemer. — Ps. lxxviii. 
34-35. 

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery 
trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove 
you, as though a strange thing happened unto you : 
but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffer- 
ings, rejoice ; that at the revelation of his glory also 
ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. — 1 Pet. iv. 12-13. 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, 
nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor 
things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, 
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us 
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our 
L,ord. — Rom. viii. 38-39. 



6o 



BURIAL. 



VIII. TRUST. 

God is our refuge and strength, 
A very present help in trouble. 

Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do 
change, 

And though the mountains be moved in the heart of 

the seas ; 

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, 
Though the mountains shake with the swelling 

thereof. — Ps. xlvi. 1-3. 
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High 
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my 

fortress ; 
My God, in whom I trust. 

For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, 

And from the noisome pestilence. 

He shall cover thee with his pinions, 

And under his w r ings shalt thou take refuge : 

His truth is a shield and a buckler. 

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, 

Nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; 

For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, 

Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 

A thousand shall fall at thy side, 

And ten thousand at thy right hand ; 

But it shall not come nigh thee. 

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, 

And see the reward of the wicked. 

For thou, O IyORD, art my refuge ! — Ps. xci. 1-9. 



BURIAL. 



61 



Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, 
And afterward receive me to glory. 
Whom have I in heaven but thee f 
And there is none upon earth that I desire beside 
thee. 

My flesh and my heart faileth : 

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion 
for ever. — Ps. lxxiii. 24-26. 
For I know him whom I have believed, and I am 

persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have 

committed unto him against that day. — 2 Tim. i. 12. 

For in the day of trouble he shall keep me secretly 
in his pavilion : 

In the covert of his tabernacle shall he hide me : 

He shall lift me up upon a rock. — Ps. xxvii. 5. 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt re- 
vive me. — Ps. cxxxviii. 7. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow 
of death, 

I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me ; 
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. — Ps. xxiii. 4/ 
As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness : 
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. 

— Ps. xvii. 15. 
I know that my redeemer liveth, 
And that he shall stand up at the last upon the earth : 
And after my skin hath been thus destroyed, 
Yet from my flesh shall I see God. — Job xix. 25-26. 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 
But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the de- 
sire to depart and be with Christ ; for it is very far 
better. — Phil. i. 21, 23. 



62 



BURIAL. 



For we know that if the earthly house of our tab- 
ernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, 
a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heav- 
ens. Being therefore always of good courage, and 
knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, 
we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by faith, 
not by sight) ; we are of good courage, I say, and 
are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to 
be at home with the Lord. — 2 Cor. v. 1, 6-8. 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present 
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory 
which shall be revealed to us-ward. — Rom. viii. 18. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul ; 

And all that is within me, bless his holy name. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 

And forget not all his benefits : 

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; 

Who healeth all thy diseases ; 

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; 

Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender 

mercies : 
He will not always chide ; 
Neither will he keep his anger for ever. 
He hath not dealt with us after our sins, 
Nor rewarded us after our iniquities. 
For as the heaven is high above the earth, 
So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 
As far as the east is from the west, 
So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 
Like as a father pitieth his children, 
So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 



BURIAL. 



63 



For lie knoweth our frame ; 

He remembereth that we are dust. — Ps. ciii. 1-4, 
9-14. 

The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. 
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : 
He leadeth me beside the still waters. 
He restoreth my soul : 

He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his 
name's sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow 
of death, 

I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me : 

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of 
mine enemies : 

Thou hast anointed my head with oil ; my cup run- 
neth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the 

days of my life : 
And I will dwell in the house of the I/drd for ever. 

— PS. xxiii. 



IX. RESURRECTION. 

For to this end Christ died, and lived again, that 
he might be L,ord of both the dead and the living. — 
Rom. xiv. 9. 

Jesus saith unto Martha, Thy brother shall rise 
again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall 
rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus 



6 4 



BURIAL. 



said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life : 
he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he 
live : and whosoever liveth and believeth on me 
shall never die. — John xi. 23-26. 

For this is the will cf my Father, that every one 
that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should 
have eternal life : and I will raise him up at the last 
day. — John vi. 40. 

Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth 
raise the dead ? — Acts xxvi. 8. 

Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest 
is not quickened, except it die : and that which thou 
sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but 
a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some 
other kind ; but God giveth it a body even as it 
pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. 
So also is the resurrection of the dead. — 1 Cor. xv. 
36-38, 42. 

For our citizenship is in heaven ; from whence 
also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ : 
who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, 
that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, 
according to the working whereby he is able even to 
subject all things unto himself. — Phil. iii. 20-21. 

But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, 
concerning them that fall asleep ; that ye sorrow not, 
even as the rest, which have no hope. For if we 
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them 
also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring 
with him. For this we say unto you by the word of 
the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto 
the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede 



BURIAL. 



65 



them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself 
shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the 
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God : 
and the dead in Christ shall rise first : then we that 
are alive, that are left, shall together with them be 
caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the 
air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Where- 
fore comfort one another with these words. — 1 Thess. 
iv. 13-18. 

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and 
judgment was given unto them : and / saw the 
souls of them that had been beheaded for the testi- 
mony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such 
as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and 
received not the mark upon their forehead and upon 
their hand ; and they lived, and reigned with Christ 
a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not 
until the thousand years should be finished. This 
is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that 
hath part in the first resurrection : over these the 
second death hath no power ; but they shall be 
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with 
him a thousand years. — Rev. xx. 4-6. 

Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised 
from the dead, how say some among you that there 
is no resurrection of the dead ? But if there is no 
resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been 
raised : and if Christ hath not been raised, then is 
our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, 
and we are found false witnesses of God ; because 
we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ : 
whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are 
5 



66 



BURIAL. 



not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither 
hath Christ been raised : and if Christ hath not been 
raised, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your sins. 
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ 
have perished. If in this life only we have hoped 
in Christ, we are of all men most pitiable. 

But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, 
the firstfruits of them that are asleep. For since by 
man came death, by man came also the resurrection 
of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in 
Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own 
order : Christ the firstfruits ; then they that are 
Christ's, at his coming. Then cometh the end, wdien 
he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the 
Father ; w T hen he shall have abolished all rule and 
all authority and power. For he must reign, till he 
hath put all his enemies under his feet. The last 
enemy that shall be abolished is death. For, He put 
all things in subjection under his feet. But when 
he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evi- 
dent that he is excepted who did subject all things 
unto him. And when all things have been subjected 
unto him, then shall the Son also himself be sub- 
jected to him that did subject all things unto him, 
that God may be all in all. 

But some one wdll say, How are the dead raised ? 
and with what manner of body do they come ? Thou 
foolish one, that which thou thyself sow r est is not 
quickened, except it die : and that which thou sow- 
est, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a 
bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other 
kind ; but God giveth it a body even as it pleased 



BURIAL. 



67 



him, and to each seed a body of its own. All flesh 
is not the same flesh : but there is one flesh of men, 
and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of 
birds, and another of fishes. There are also celes- 
tial bodies, and bodies terrestrial : but the glory of 
the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial 
is another. There is one glory of the sun, and 
another glory of the moon, and another glory of the 
stars ; for one star differeth from another star in 
glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It 
is sown in corruption ; it is raised in incorruption : it 
is sown in dishonour ; it is raised in glory : it is sown 
in weakness ; it is raised in power : it is sown a nat- 
ural body ; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is 
a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So 
also it is written, The first man Adam became a 
living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving 
spirit. Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, 
but that which is natural ; then that which is spir- 
itual. The first man is of the earth, earthy ; the 
second man is of heaven. As is the earthy, such 
are they also that are earthy : and as is the heavenly, 
such are they also that are heavenly. And as we 
have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also 
bear the image of the heavenly. 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood 
cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth 
corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you 
a mystery : We shall not all sleep, but we shall all 
be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 
at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and 
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall 



68 



BURIAL. 



be changed. For this corruptible must put on in- 
corruption, and this mortal must put on immortal- 
ity. But when this corruptible shall have put on 
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on 
immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that 
is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O 
death, where is thy victory ? O death, where is thy 
sting ? The sting of death is sin ; and the power of 
sin is the law T : but thanks be to God, which giveth 
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, un- 
movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not vain 
in the Lord. — i Cor. xv. 12-58. 



X. HEAVEN — THE PLACE. 

Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in 
God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are 
many mansions ; if it were not so, I would have 
told you ; for I go to prepare a place for you. And 
if I go and prepare a place for }^ou, I come again, 
and w^ill receive you unto myself; that where I am, 
there y<t may be also. — John xiv. 1-3. 

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth : for 
the first heaven and the first earth are passed away ; 
and the sea is no more. And I saw the holy city, 
new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from 
God, made ready as a bride adorned for her hus- 
band. And I heard a great voice out of the throne 



BURIAL. 



6 9 



saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 
and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his 
peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and 
be their God. And he carried me away in the Spirit 
to a mountain great and high, and showed me the 
holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven 
from God, having the glory of God : her light was 
like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper 
stone, clear as crystal : having a wall great and 
high ; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve 
angels. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls ; 
each one of the several gates was of one pearl : and 
the street of the city was pure gold, as it were 
transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein : 
for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are 
the temple thereof. And the city hath no need of 
the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it : for 
the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp 
thereof is the Lamb. And the nations shall walk 
amidst the light thereof : and the kings of the earth 
do bring their glory into it. And the gates thereof 
shall in no wise be shut by day (for there shall be 
no night there) : And they shall bring the glory 
and the honor of the nations into it. And there 
shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or 
he that maketh an abomination and a lie : but 
only they which are written in the Lamb's book of 
life. — RKV. xxi. 1-4, 10--12, 21-27. 

And he shewed me a river of water of life, bright 
as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and 
of the Lamb, in the midst of the street thereof. 
And on this side of the river and on that was the 



7° 



BURIAL. 



tree of life, bearing twelve ma?iner of fruits, yield- 
ing its fruit every month : and the leaves of the 
tree were for the healing of the nations. — Rev. 
xxii. 1-2. 



HEAVEN — THE WORSHIP. 

And I saw, and I heard a voice of man}' angels 
round about the throne and the living creatures and 
the elders ; and the number of them was ten thou- 
sand times ten thousand, and thousands of thou- 
sands ; saying with a great voice, Worthy is the 
Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, 
and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, 
and glory, and blessing. And even' created thing 
which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and un- 
der the earth, and on the sea, and all things that 
are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth 
on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, 
and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, 
for ever and ever. — Rev. v. n-13. 

After these things I saw, and behold, a great 
multitude, which no man could number, out of 
even,' nation, and of all tribes and peoples and 
tongues, standing before the throne and before the 
Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their 
hands ; and they cry with a great voice, saying, 
Salvation unto our God which sitteth on the throne, 
and unto the Lamb. And all the angels were 
standing round about the throne, and about the 
elders and the four living creatures ; and they fell 



BURIAL. 



71 



before the throne on their faces, and worshipped 
God, saying, Amen : Blessing, and glory, and 
wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, 
and might, be unto God for ever and ever. Amen. 
— Rev. vii. 9-13. 



HEAVEN — THE REWARD. 

And I heard a voice from heaven saying , Write, 
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from 
henceforth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may 
rest from their labours ; for their works follow with 
them. — Rev. xiv. 13. 

And he that received the five talents came and 
brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou de- 
li veredst unto me five talents : lo, I have gained 
other five talents. His lord said unto him, Well 
done, good and faithful servant : thou hast been 
faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many 
things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And 
he also that received the two talents came and said, 
Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents : lo, I 
have gained other two talents. His lord said unto 
him, Well done, good and faithful servant ; thou hast 
been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over 
many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 
— Matt. xxv. 20—23. 

And they that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
ness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to 
righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. — Dan. 
xii. 3. 



72 



BURIAL. 



And I heard a great voice out of the throne say- 
ing, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 
and he shall dwell w 7 ith them, and they shall be 
his people, and God himself shall be with them, 
and be their God : and he shall wipe away every 
tear from their eyes ; and death shall be no more ; 
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor 
pain, any more : the first things are passed away. 
And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I 
make all things new. And he saith, Write : for 
these words are faithful and true. And he said un- 
to me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and 
the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will 
give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the 
water of life freely. He that overcometh shall in- 
herit these things ; and I will be his God, and he 
shall be my son. — Rev. xxi. 3-7. 

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, 
These which are arrayed in the white robes, who 
are they, and whence came they ? And I say unto 
him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, 
These are they which come out of the great tribu- 
lation, and they washed their robes, and made 
them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore 
are they before the throne of God ; and they serve 
him day and night in his temple : and he that sit- 
teth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over 
them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst 
any more ; neither shall the sun strike upon them, 
nor any heat : for the Lamb which is in the midst 
of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall 
guide them unto fountains of waters of life : and 



BURIAL. 



73 



God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes. — 
RKV. vii. 13-17. 

And they shall see his face ; and his name shall be 
on their foreheads. And there shall be night no 
more ; and they need no light of lamp, neither light 
of sun ; for the Lord God shall give them light : and 
they shall reign for ever and ever. — Rev. xxii. 4-5. 

[In addition to the above Scripture Selections for Funeral 
Service, it is recommended that trie minister consult the se- 
lections arranged for " The House of Mourning.' ' Many of 
these will be found of rare adaptation.] 



74 



INFANT BAPTISM. 



INFANT BAPTISM. 



" Infa7its descending from their parents, either both or but 
one of the?n, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to 
Him, are, in that respect, within the covenant, and are to be 
baptized'' — Larger Catechism. Ans. 166. 

"Baptism is not to be unnecessarily delayed ; nor to be 
administered by any private person'' — Directory for Wor- 
ship. Ch. vii. i. 

" // is usually to be admi?iistered in the church in the pres- 
ence of the congregation." — Directory for Worship. Ch. 
vii. 2. 

FORM FOR INFANT BAPTISM. 

While the child is being brought to the font, the minister 
may say : 

And they brought unto him also their babes, that 
he should touch them ; but when the disciples saw 
it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto 
him, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto 
me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom 
of God. — Lukb xviii. 15-16. 

For I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do 
always behold the face of my Father which is in 
heaven. — Matt, xviii. 10. 

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is 
in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 
— Matt, xviii. 14. 



INFANT BAPTISM. 



75 



When the parents and child have taken their appropriate 
place, the minister shall say : 
Let us pray . 

Blessed Jesus, thou hast encouraged us to bring 
our babes to thee ; for thou hast said, Of such is the 
kingdom of heaven. We beseech thee take up this 
child in the arms of thy power and grace, put thy 
hands upon it, and bless it. May it be a vessel of 
honor sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and 
owned as one of thine in the day when thou makest 
up thy jewels. Amen. 

Here the minister shall address the parents, saying : 

Dearly Behoved : In thus presenting your child 
for baptism, you renew your profession of faith in 
Christianity, and your hearty acceptance and adop- 
tion of it as the religion of your household. 

You confess that this child has inherited a de- 
praved nature, and that thus he [or she, and so 
elsewhere] needs the renewing and sanctifying in- 
fluence of the Holy Spirit, of which the water of 
baptism is the scriptural emblem. 

You do here and now, in this solemn and pre- 
cious rite, publicly express that faith of your hearts, 
in which you have already given this child to God ; 
and you acknowledge God's right to take him from 
you when He pleases, and to employ him as He 
pleases in His service and to His glory. 

You do promise to pray with, and for, this child, 
to instruct him diligently in the doctrines and du- 
ties of Christianity, and to do what in you lies to 
bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord. 



7 6 



INFANT BAPTISM. 



This you do, humbly hoping that you are Christ's, 
and therefore Abraham's seed and heirs, according 
to the promise, and on this scriptural ground be- 
lieving that the God of Abraham will be your God, 
and the God of your children after you. 

Do you thus believe and promise ? 

Here the parents shall audibly answer : 
I do. 

Then the minister [taking the child in his arms or not, 
according to the wish of parents'], dipping his hand in water 
and then placing his hand upon the child's head, and using 
the full given name of the child, shall say : 

M N , child of the covenant, I baptize 

thee into the name of the Father and of the Son 
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Let us pray. 

O thou Almighty and most gracious God, who 
hast consented to enter into covenant with thy peo- 
ple, and who hast granted us the spirit of adoption, 
whereby we call thee Our Father, we joyfully pre- 
sent to thee this dear treasure cf the Christian 
household, a living sacrifice, which we desire may 
be holy and acceptable. It is a child of the cove- 
nant, born unto thee, born in thy house. Write 
thou this new baptismal name in the Lamb's book 
of life. Own it graciously evermore in the cove- 
nant of thy love. Help these parents to keep the 
solemn and tender vows they have taken. And 
may this child grow like the Child Jesus, wax 
strong in spirit, be filled with grace and wisdom, 
and prove a beautiful plant in the household gar- 
den, and a joy to these parents forever. 



INFANT BAPTISM. 



77 



Pour thy Spirit, we beseech thee, upon all our 
offspring, that they may grow up as willows by the 
water-courses, and may come to subscribe with 
their own hands unto the Lord, and to surname 
themselves by the name of Israel. 

This we humbly ask in the name of thy beloved 
Son, who has taught us that it is not the will of our 
Father in heaven that one of these little ones should 
perish. Amen. 



78 RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



FORM FOR RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S 
SUPPER. 



I. RECEPTION OF PERSONS BAPTIZED IN THEIR 
INFANCY.* 

The following persons u born within the pale of 
the visible Church " and in their infancy dedicated 
to God in baptism, having been examined and ap- 
proved by the Session as to their knowledge and 
Christian experience, will now present themselves 
#s their names are called, publicly to confirm their 
baptismal obligations. 

Here the names shall be read by the minister, and when the 
candidates have prese?ited themselves, the minister shall 
say : 

Beloved : — Grace be unto you and peace from 
God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 
This is the word of faith which we preach : u If 
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus 
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath 
raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." 

By virtue of your connection with the 'visible 
Church through believing parents, you received the 
sacrament of baptism in infancy, according to 

* When they come to 3 T ears of discretion, if they be free from scan- 
dal, appear sober and steady, and to have sufficient knowledge to 
discern the Lord's body, they ought to be informed it is their duty 
and privilege to come to the Lord's Supper. (Directory for Worship, 
ch. ix.) 



RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 79 



Scriptural warrant. You have been instructed in 
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 
You have been taught to abhor sin, to fear God, 
and obey the Lord Jesus Christ. 

As children of the covenant you do now humbly 
trust that you have been chosen of God to salva- 
tion through sanctification of the Spirit and belief 
of the truth, and you regard it to be your duty 
and privilege to come to the Lord's Supper ? 
Here each shall audibly answer : 

I do. 

Then the minister shall say : 

We thankfully recognize the seal of God thus 
set to His promise, which is unto us and to our 
children. We rejoice in your obedience to our 
common Master, who said to His disciples, " This 
do in remembrance of me." We welcome you to 
the table of the Lord. Henceforth, let your man- 
ner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ; and 
may you adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in 
all things. 



II. RECEPTION OF PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED ON 
PUBLIC PROFESSION OF THEIR FAITH.* 

ADUIyT BAPTISM. * 

The following persons, having given satisfaction 
with respect to their knowledge and Christian ex- 

*When unbaptized persons apply for admission into the church, 
they shall, in ordinary cases, after giving satisfaction with respect to 
their knowledge and piety, make a public profession of their faith, 
in the presence of the congregation ; and thereupon be baptized. 
(Directory for Worship, ch. ix. 4.) 



8o RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



perience and having been received into the church 
by the Session, are now to make a public profes- 
sion of their faith, and thereupon to be baptized. 

Here the candidates will come forward, as their names are 
called, and having presented themselves the minister shall 
say : 

Beloved in the Lord : — In accordance with our 
Saviour's words, 44 Whosoever shall confess Me 
before men, him will I confess also before my Fa- 
ther which is in heaven;'' — you here and now, 
confessing and repenting of your sins, and trusting 
that they are pardoned solely through the atoning 
sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord, do publicly 
profess your faith in Jesus Christ and your accept- 
ance of Him as your Saviour and King, whose life 
is your supreme example, whose death is your only 
ground of hope, whose commandment is your 
supreme law, and whose perpetual and prevailing 
intercession is your evermore blessed assurance of 
salvation to the uttermost. 

Henceforth avoiding that worldly conformity 
which is forbidden in the Scriptures, and seeking 
fellowship with the people of God, you do engage 
to keep covenant with them, and with Him, in the 
faithful and diligent observance of all the com- 
mandments and ordinances of our Lord and Sa- 
viour Jesus Christ. 

Do you thus believe and promise ? 

Here each shall audibly answer : 
I do. 



RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 8 1 



Here baptism shall be administered. The minister, dipping 
his hand in water, and then placing his hand on the head 
of the candidate for baptism, and using the full given 
name of the candidate, shall say : 

M N , believer in Jesus, I baptize thee 

into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
'the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Let us pray. 

Most holy and gracious God, thou hast heard 
this public confession of faith. We trust it is the 
answer of a true heart. Thou hast witnessed this 
outward seal of baptism, given in thy triune name, 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We trust it marks 
an inward washing of regeneration already wrought 
by thy Spirit. In this holy sacramental hour may 
there be a solemn setting apart of heart and life to 
thy service forevermore. And as these, that have 
now publicly confessed their faith, henceforth wear 
the sacramental seal and badge of discipleship, wilt 
thou by thy transforming grace make them living 
and loving epistles of Christ, knov/n and read of 
all men. May they love the peace of thy church, 
and find in thy courts a goodly fellowship, and in 
the keeping of thy commandments a great reward. 
Let thy statutes be their songs in the house of 
their pilgrimage : and let thy testimonies, which 
they have taken as a heritage for ever, be always 
the rejoicing of their hearts. We ask it in Jesus* 
name. Amen. 



6 



82 RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



in. RECEPTION OF PERSONS COMING BY CERTIFI- 
CATE. 

The following persons have presented letters of 
dismission and recommendation to this Church, 
which have been accepted by the Session. They 
will rise in their places as their names are called. 

Here the minister shall read the names of those uniting by 
letter, and when they have risen in the presence of the 
congregation, the minister shall say : 

Dearly Beloved : — Having heretofore made a 
public profession of your faith, and having been 
commended to us by the respective churches of 
which you were members, you do now cordially 
acknowledge your special relations to this Church, 
desiring in all things to walk worthy the vocation 
wherewith we are called. 



IV. WELCOME BY THE CHURCH. 

Here all the members of the Church will rise, to welcome 
all that have presented themselves, either on profession or 
by letter, and the minister shall say : 

We, the officers and members of this Church, 
earnestly welcome you to our communion, to share 
with us the labors and privileges, the trials and the 
rev/ards, of Christian discipleship. 

Let us together " confess that we are pilgrims 
on the earth, " and " declare plainly that we seek a 
country " looking for the blessed hope, and ap- 



RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 83 



pearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour 
Jesus Christ." 

" We are persuaded of you things that accom- 
pany salvation." Living and dying may you be 
the Lord's ; and at last, may you and we, faithful 
unto death, and more than conquerors through 
Him that loved us, stand holy and unreprovable in 
His sight to the praise of the glory of His grace, 
being entered into that blessed heavenly fellowship, 
where our communion shall be forever perfect and 
our joy forever full. 

Here may be sung this stanza : 

Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in Christian love ; 

The fellowship of kindred minds 
Is like to that above. 

" The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord 
make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto 
you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you 
and give you peace." 

" Now unto Him that is able to guard you from 
stumbling, and to set you before the presence of 
His glory without blemish, in exceeding joy, to 
the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, 
before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen." 



84 PRESBYTERIAN DOCTRINE. 



SUMMARY OF PRESBYTERIAN DOCTRINE. 



The doctrines of the Presbyterian Church are set forth in 
the Confession of Faith, as also in the Larger and Shorter 
Catechism. The sincere reception and adoption of this 
Confession of Faith, "as containing the system of doctrine 
taught in the Scriptures is demanded of all ministers and 
ruling-elders. 

But of Church members it is only required that they give 
credible evidence of faith in the Lord fesus Christ, the 
faith proving itself in penitence for sin, and obedience to 
the commandments. To demand public assent to an ex- 
tended creed from those uniting with the visible Church 
is not according to the letter or the spirit of Presbytertian 
law. 

It would seem to be fitting, however, that there should be 
occasionally set forth a brief summary of the chief doctrines 
of the faith held by the Church. It is, therefore, suggested 
that the following , or a like statement ^ of the principal doc- 
trines of the Confession of Faith, be publicly read in connec- 
tion with the reception of -new members to the fellowship of 
the Church, and the administration of the Lord's Supper. 

SUMMARY OF DOCTRINE HELD BY THE PRESBY- 
TERIAN CHURCH. 

I. One God ; infinite, eternal and unchangeable 
in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, good- 
ness and truth, subsisting in mysterious and eternal 
trinity — Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 



PRESBYTERIAN DOCTRINE. 



85 



II. One Word ; the Scriptures of the Old and 
New Testaments, all given by inspiration of God, 
and our only infallible rule of faith and practice. 

III. One Condemnation; there being no differ- 
ence, for all have sinned and come short of the 
glory of God, because the carnal mind is enmity 
against God. 

IV. One Saviour; the Lord Jesus Christ, God 
manifest in the flesh, the power unto salvation from 
sin and endless death, by atoning expiatory sacrifice, 
through faith. 

V. One Atonement for Sin; made by Jesus 
Christ in his obedience unto death, sufficient for all, 
adapted to all, taking every legal obstacle out of 
the way of all, and on these grounds to be offered 
to all. 

VI. One Spirit ; God, the Holy Ghost, through 
whose sovereign agency in regeneration, the soul, 
dead in sin, is made alive in Christ, and through 
whose sovereign agency in sanctification, the soul is 
changed more and more into the divine image from 
glory to glory. 

VII. One Life ; the life hid with Christ in God 
— the life eternal ; begun when a sinner believes, and 
assured forever thereafter by the effectual and sover- 
eign grace of God; so that once given this eternal 
life, no believer shall ever perish. 

VIII. One Church ; which is Christ's body, all 
the members of which, God hath from the beginning 
chosen to salvation through sanctification of the 
Spirit and belief of the Truth. 

IX. Two Sacraments, and only two, as ordained 



86 



PRESBYTERIAN DOCTRINE, 



by Christ — Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Bap- 
tism being a sacrament wherein we have " sign and 
seal of ingrafting into Christ, of remission of sins 
by His blood, and regeneration by His spirit ;" and 
the Lord's Supper being a sacrament wherein* " the 
Lord's death is showed forth," and the worthy 
receivers are, by faith, " made partakers of his body 
and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth 
in grace." 

X. One Judgment; when the dead, small and 
great shall stand before God, and every man shall 
be judged according to his works ; arid the wicked 
shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the 
righteous into life eternal. 



NOTES ON THE LORD'S SUPPER, 87 



NOTES CONCERNING THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



"Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein he was 
betrayed, instituted the sacrament of His body and 
bloody called the Lord's Supper, to be observed in 
His church unto the end of the world ; for the per- 
petual remembrance of the sacrifice of Himself in 
His death, the sealing all benefits thereof unto true 
believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth in 
Him, their further engagement in and to all duties 
which they owe unto Him ; and to be a bond and 
pledge of their communion with Him and with each 
other, as members of His mystical body." Conf. 
of Faith, chap, xxix., I. 

The Presbyterian Church, recognizing all true 
disciples of Jesus Christ as brethren, does not deny 
the right to this sacramental table of any who call 
Jesus Lord, and have life in Him " through faith in 
His blood," and prove the possession of that life by 
practical obedience. " The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of 
Christ?" I Cor. x., 16. 

Therefore, " such as, sensible of their lost and 
helpless state by sin, depend upon the atonement 
of Christ for pardon and acceptance with God, and, 
renouncing their sins, are determined to lead a holy 
and godly life," are invited to this Supper of the 
Lord. 



88 



NOTES ON THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



" The profane, the ignorant, and the scandalous, 
and those that secretly indulge themselves in any 
known sin, are not to approach the holy table." 
Directory for Worship, chap, viii., 4. 

M One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of 
his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord's 
Supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he 
be not yet assured thereof ; and in God's account 
hath it, if he be duly affected with the apprehen- 
sion of the want of it, and unfeignedly desires to 
be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity ; in 
which case (because promises are made and this 
sacrament is appointed for the relief even of weak 
and doubting Christians) he is to bewail his unbe- 
lief, and labor to have his doubts resolved ; and, so 
doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's 
Supper, that he may be further strengthened." 
Larger Catechism, Ans. 172. 



ADMINISTRATION OF LORD'S SUPPER,, 89 



FORM FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE 
LORD'S SUPPER. 



If the communion shall immediately follow a preaching 
service, the minister, at the close of the sermon, and after the 
reception of new members, shall give opportunity, to those 
who may so desire, to withdraw from the service. But a 
cordial invitation should be extended to all to remain. Per- 
haps the least disturbance would arise by having those who 
wish to withdraw, pass from the church during the singing 
of the hymn . But this termination of the precedent general 
public service may be more distinctly marked by the bene- 
diction. 

If the administration of the communion shall be a dis- 
tinct service, it may be introduced after the usual manner 
of public service, by an invocation, the singing of a hymn, 
the reading of Scripture, and the offering of prayer. After 
which the service shall proceed as at the close of the sermon. 

After the public recognition and reception of any who 
may for the first time come to the Lord's table (the form for 
which is elsewhere given, pp. 78-83), the congregation shall 
unite in singing an appropriate sacramental hymn. 

During, or at the close of the singing of this hymn, the 
minister shall pass from the pulpit to the communion-table , 
and the elders shall come forward and take their seats on 
either side of him. Then the minister shall say : 

Hear the words of the Institution of this Holy 
Supper of our Lord, as they are given by the 
Apostle Paul : 

For I received of the Lord that which also I 
delivered unto you, how that the Lord Jesus in the 



9<D ADMINISTRATION OF LORD'S SUPPER. 



night in which he was betrayed took bread ; and 
when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, 
This is my body, which is for you : this do in re- 
membrance of me. In like manner also the cup, 
after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant 
in my blood : this do, as often as ye drink it, in re- 
membrance of me. For as often as ye eat this 
bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's 
death till he come. — i Cor. xi. 23-26. 

Here the minister shall make a brief address, if further 
word of counsel or comfort be thought desirable ; setting 
forth the nature of the feast, as a memorial feast — " this do 
in remembrance of me ; " or, a sacramental feast — "this is 
my blood of the covenant ; " or, a feast of appropriation — 
" take, eat, this is my body ; " or, a feast of testimony — 
" ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come ; " or, a feast 
of communion — " the cup of blessing which we bless, is it 
not a communion of the blood of Christ ? the bread which 
we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ ? " 
And thus, or in some like manner, it may be shown that 
this Holy Supper of our Lord "is of inestimable benefit, 
to strengthen his people against sin ; to support them under 
troubles ; to encourage and quicken them in duty ; to in- 
spire them with love and zeal ; to increase their faith, and 
holy resolution ; and to beget peace of conscience, and com- 
fortable hopes of eternal life." 

Then the minister shall extend invitation to the Lord's 
Supper, saying : 

All who, " sensible of their lost and helpless 
state by sin, depend upon the atonement of Christ 
for pardon and acceptance with God," and who are 
duly instructed in gospel doctrine so as " to discern 
the Lord's body," and who " desire to renounce 



ADM IN IS TRA TION OF LORD'S SUPPER, g i 



their sins, and are determined to lead a holy 
and godly life/' are invited to partake of this sup- 
per.* 

Here the congregation may audibly repeat with the min- 
ister the Apostles' Creed. 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of 
heaven and earth : 

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, 
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the 
Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was 
crucified, dead, and buried ; He descended into 
hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He 
ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right 
hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence 
He shall come to judge the quick and the 
dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic 
Church ; the communion of saints ; the forgiveness 
of sins ; the resurrection of the body, and the life 
everlasting. Amen. 

Then the minister shall offer the prayer of consecration, 
setting the elements of bread and wine apart from a com- 
mon to a sacred use. The prayer here following, as also 
prayer elsewhere found in this book, is not intended as a 
fixed form for rigid observance, but as simply suggestive, 
and a possible help to devotional expression. 

O thou ever-blessed God, our divine Master and 
King, we are again met in thy banqueting house 
with thy banner of love over us. Thou hast called 
us once more to thy sacramental supper. We are 

*See Directory for Worship, Ch. viii. 4. 



9 2 ADMINIS TRA TION OF L ORB'S SUPPER, 



invited to come and eat of wisdom's bread, and 
drink of the wine that she has mingled. Give us 
to hunger and thirst after righteousness. 

We acknowledge ourselves utterly unworthy of 
being invited to communion with thee at thy holy 
table, where are spread the memorials of thy love 
and sacrifice. We deserve not the crumbs that may 
fall from thy table ; yet thou hast called us to eat 
the children's bread, But thou hast taken us into 
covenant with thee ; for we are thy baptized ones, 
set apart for thee, and sealed to be thine. And we 
would not question the ways of thy grace. Forgive 
us, Lord, for all our past offences, and bless us now 
with thy pardon and thy peace. 

We do thank thee for the institution of this 
blessed ordinance, this precious legacy and token 
of thy love. And that we may not come unworth- 
ily to this sacred memorial feast, we beseech thee, 
O thou Holy Spirit of God, lead us into a more in- 
timate and experimental acquaintance with Jesus 
Christ and him crucified — with Jesus Christ and 
him glorified ; that, knowing him and the power of 
his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffer- 
ings, we may both discern the Lord's body and 
show the Lord's death. 

O let the great gospel doctrine of Christ's dying 
to save sinners, which is represented in this ordi- 
nance, be both nourishing and refreshing to us; be 
both our strength and our song ; the spring of our 
holiness and our joy. Seal to us, O thou Lamb of 
God, who art at once the Lord and the victim of 
this sacrificial feast — seal to us these symbols of 



ADMINISTRATION OF LORD'S SUPPER. 93 



thy body and thy blood, as they are now set apart 
to sacred use. 

Let this cup of blessing which we bless, be the 
communion of the blood of Christ; let this 
bread which we break, be the communion of the 
body of Christ ; and enable us herein to show the 
Lord's death till he come. Let Christ's flesh be 
meat indeed to us, and his blood drink indeed. 
And give us so by faith to eat his flesh and drink 
his blood, that he may dwell in us, and we in him, 
that we may live by him. 

Awake, O north wind, and come, thou south, 
and blow upon our garden, that the spices thereof 
may flow forth ; and then let our Beloved come 
into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits, so that 
each of us may be able to say, in the fullness of a 
humble, yet trustful and confident, love, My Be- 
loved is mine, and I am his. We ask it in Jesus' 
name. Amen. 

The bread and the wine being thus set apart by prayer, the 
minister shall take the bread, and say : 

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the same night in 
which he was betrayed, having taken bread and 
blessed and broken it, gave it to his disciples, as I, 
ministering in his name, give this bread unto you, 
saying \here the bread is to be handed to the 
elders'], Take, eat : this is my body, which is for 
you : this do, in remembrance of me. 

Then the elders shall proceed in the orderly distribution 
of the bread to the people, the minister himself receiving the 
bread of one of the officers and communicating at such time 
as may appear to him most convenient. 



94 ADMINISTRATION OF LORD'S SUPPER. 



During the distribution of both the bread and the wine, it 
would seem most fit to leave the communicants, each in un- 
disturbed, personal, silent communion with the Lord, 

After the elders have returned from distributing the 
bread, the minister should ask any who may have been 
passed by in the distribution to man (/est it by the uplifted 
hand, or by tising. 

Then the minister should take the bread and pass it to 
each of the elders for their participation, saying : 

The body of the Lord Jesus, which is for you. 
This do in remembrance of him. 

After all have thus partaken of the bread, the mi?iister 
shall take the cup, and say : 

After the same manner, our Saviour also took 
the cup : and, having given thanks, as hath been 
done in his name, he gave it to the disciples : say- 
ing [Jure the cup is to be handed to the elders'], This 
cup is the new covenant in my blood : this do, as 
oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. And the 
Apostle added, For as often as ye eat this bread 
and drink this cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death 
till he come. 

Then the elders shall proceed with the distribution of the 
cup after the same order as with the bread, until minister^ 
people, and elders have all drank of it. 

Then the minister is to pray and give thaiiks to God "for 
his rich mercy and invaluable goodness, vouchsafed to them 
in the sacred communion ; to implore pardon for the defects 
of the whole service ; and to pray for the acceptance of their 
persons and performances ; for the gracious assistance of the 
Holy Spirit, to enable them, as they have received Christ 
Jesus the Lord, so to walk in him ; that they may hold fast 
that which they have received, that no man take their crow 71 ; 
that their conversation may be as becometh the gospel ; that 



ADMINISTRATION OF LORD'S SUPPER % 95 



they may bear about with them, continually, the dying of the 
Lord Jesus ; that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in 
their mortal body ; that their light may so shine before men, 
that others, seeing their good works, may glorify their 
Father who is in heaven." 

Then the offering in behalf of the poor shall be made ; 
after which shall be sung a hymn, such as " Rock of Ages 

Then the minister shall pronounce the following, or some 
other gospel benediction : 

Now the God of peace, who brought again from 
the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, with the 
blood of the eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, 
make you perfect in every good thing to do his 
will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in 
his sight, through Jesus Christ : to whom be the 
glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



96 ORGANIZATION OF A CHURCH. 



FORM FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF A 
CHURCH. 



" A particular church consists of a number of professing 
Christians with their offspring voluntarily associated to- 
gether for divine worship and godly living, agreeably to 
the Holy Scriptures ; and submitting to a certain form 
of government." — Form of Government, Ch. ii. 4. 

While such an organization undoubtedly can be effected 
without the agency of a Presbytery, it is, nevertheless, ex- 
ceedingly desirable that it be secured under Presbyterial 
direction, by a Committee of Presbytery duly appointed 
for the purpose, so that everything may be done * * decently 
and i?i order. ' ' 

" This organization ought always to be made by application 
to the Presbytery within the bounds of which the church 
to be organized is found, unless this be exceedingly incon- 
venient, in which case it may be done by a duly author- 
ized missionary, or a neighboring minister of the gos- 
pel."— General Assembly, 1831. 

At a preliminary meeting of those wishing to be formed 
into a church organization, presided over by a minister of 
the Committee of Presbytery duly appointed for the pur- 
pose, or by a duly authorized neighboring minister, certifi- 
cates should be received from those who are dismissed from 
other churches, and examination should be had of those 
desiring to unite with the new church on profession of faith. 
The certificates having been found in order, and the ex- 
amination having been sustained, the applicants for mem- 
bership in the new church are to be notified of their ac- 
ceptance, and asked to appear at the public service, that the 
church may be duly constituted. 



ORGAN IZ A TION OF A CHURCH. 



97 



At the service of organization it is appropriate that a ser- 
mon should be preached. The minister conducting the ex- 
ercises should then state the purpose of the meeting, the 
action already had and the responsibility and solemnity of 
the step now to be taken in formally constituting a church 
of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Then the applicants approved for membership in the new 
church shall rise in their places as their names are called, 
and be addressed as follows : 

Do you whose names have just now been read 
publicly declare that you desire to be organized as 
a Church of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and 
for the benefit of yourselves and your children and 
your fellow-men ? 

To this, and each of the following questions, the applicants 
shall unitedly and audibly answer : 

We do. 

Do you approve and adopt " The Form of Gov- 
ernment," " The Book of Discipline " and u The 
Directory of Worship" of the Presbyterian Church 
in the United States of America, and desire to be 
regulated thereby? 

We do. 

Do you recognize the Confession of Faith and 
the Larger and Shorter Catechisms as containing 
the system of scriptural doctrine held by the Pres- 
byterian Church, taught in her pulpits and sin- 
cerely received and adopted by every minister and 
elder in her communion ? 

We do. 

Do you promise to yield all due obedience in 
the Lord to those who shall be set as office-bearers 
7 



98 ORGANIZATION OF A CHURCH. 



in this Church, and to seek the peace, purity and 
prosperity of the Church ? 
We do. 

Do you desire to be known as the Pres- 
byterian Church of ? 

We do. 

Here those applicants, if any, who were received on pro- 
fession of faith, and who had not been baptized in infancy, 
shall come forward as their names are called, and shall re- 
ceive the sacrament of baptism. (See p. 79.) 
Then the Minister shall say : 

Having thus publicly avowed your desire to be 
organized as a Church of Christ, and having given 
your assent to Presbyterian order, and pledged 
your obedience to Presbyterian law, I, therefore, 
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the great 
Head of the Church (and by the authority of the 

Presbytery of *) do pronounce and declare 

that you are now regularly organized as the 

Presbyterian Church of . 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Here the minister shall offer the prayer of organization, 
and invoke the blessing of God upon the infant Church. 

If now it shall be determined to proceed at once to the 
election of Elders and Deacons, nominations may be for- 
mally made, and the election proceed by ballot, only those 
being allowed to vote who have been constituted members 
of the new Church. 

Those elected, upon signifying their consent to serve, 
shall come before the Church, and the minister shall pro- 
ceed to ordain them to their respective offices, according to 



* This clause to be added if the action is under Presbyterial direction. 



ORGANIZA TION OF A CHURCH 



the direction of the Form of Government (ch. xiii.) and in 
the order of ordination for elders and deacons, given in this 
book, pp. ioo-iii. 

In conclusion the minister shall say : 

It is most fitting that this beginning of a goodly 
and godly fellowship should be marked by some 
outward expression. Therefore, after the bene- 
diction is pronounced, let all the members of the 
Church cordially take each other by the hand, and 
come forward to give to each of the newly-elected 
officers the right hand in token of hearty reception 
and regard. 

Here shall be pronounced the Apostolic benediction. 



I OO ORDINA TION OF ELDERS. 



FORM FOR ORDINATION OF ELDERS. 



The newly -elected elders will come forward as their names 
are read by the minister ; and when they have taken their 
places i?i front of the pulpit, the minister shall say : 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? 
And who shall stand in his holy place ? 
He that hath clean hands and a pure heart ; 
Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, 
And hath not sworn deceitfully. — Ps. xxiv. 3, 4. 

Dearly Beloved : — Having been chosen to the 
office of Ruling Elder by the voice of this Church, 
it is made my duty, as the first step in the service 
of ordination, " to set forth in a concise manner the 
warrant and nature of the office, together with the 
character to be sustained and the duties to be ful- 
filled." 

(i Ruling elders are properly the representatives 
of the people, chosen by them for the purpose of 
exercising government and discipline in conjunc- 
tion with pastors or ministers." 

The warrant for the office is the record of the 
Scriptures, making it manifest that elders were 
*' ordained in every church." 

It is an office of government, to which is very 
largely entrusted the order and discipline of the 
church of God. This involves the reception of 
church members, the regulation of the worship, 
the prevention, so far as possible, of the profana- 



ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ioi 

tion of the sacraments, the guardianship of doc- 
trine, the due dealing with those who deserve 
censure, and the restoration of these, when penitent, 
to the household of faith. 

It is an office of spiritual oversight, involving 
tender and constant concern for every interest of 
the church : a faithful and prayerful taking heed to 
all the flock, by watch and care and guidance. 

It is an office of example — the elders being 
charged to take heed to themselves, as " examples 
to the flock," in all godly walk and conversation. 

And now, dearly beloved, in this further service 
of ordination, according to the usage of the Pres- 
byterian Church,* it is appointed that you give 
answer to the following questions : 

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and 
New Testaments to be the word of God, the only 
infallible rule of faith and practice? 

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the 
confession of faith of this church, as containing 
the system of doctrine taught in the holy Scrip- 
tures ? 

3. Do you approve of the government and dis- 
cipline of the Presbyterian church in these United 
States ? 

4. Do you accept the office of ruling elder in 
this congregation, and promise faithfully to perform 
all the duties thereof ? 

5. Do you promise to study the peace, unity, 
and purity of the church? 



* Form of Government, ch. 13, sec. 4. 



102 



ORDINA TION OF ELDERS. 



The elders-elect shall audibly answer these questions, saying 
in each instance : 

I do. 

The minister shall now address the members of the Church , 
saying : 

Do you, the members of this Church, acknowl- 
edge and receive these brethren as ruling elders, 
and do you promise to yield them all that honor, 
encouragement and obedience in the Lord, to 
which their office, according to the Word of God 
and the constitution of this Church, entitles them ? 

The members of the Church shall answer by holding up 
their right hands. 

Here the elders-elect shall devoutly kneel, and the minister 
shall set them apart to the holy office, by prayer of ordina- 
tion [and, if desired, by the imposition of hands), saying : 

O Lord our God, King in Zion and Head of the 
Church, we beseech thee that thou will now set 
apart these, thy servants, by ordainment of thy 
Holy Spirit to the work to which they have been 
called by the voice of this people. Endue them 
plenteously with heavenly wisdom. May they be 
good men, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, rul- 
ing in the fear of God and always speaking the 
things which become sound doctrine. Make them 
good examples to the believers in word, in conver- 
sation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity. 
Fill them with a sense of both the responsibility 
and the privilege of their official stewardship. Let 
the arms of their hands be made strong by the 
hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. And when the 



ORDINATION OF ELDERS. 



Chief Shepherd shall appear, may they receive a 
crown of life that fadeth not away. Amen. 

Here the minister shall say : 

By the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and 
according to the law of the Presbyterian Church, 
you have now been ordained to the office of Ruling 
Elder ; and I hereby declare you duly constituted 
and set apart as Ruling Elders of this Church. 
May you faithfully keep the vows of ordination, 
and discharge with loving zeal and fidelity the 
duties of your sacred office. Amen. 

I now charge you, in the name of the Lord 
Jesus, to take heed to yourselves and to all the 
flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made 
you overseers, to feed the Church of God which 
He hath purchased with His own blood; and that 
you keep this commandment without spot, unre- 
bukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

I also charge you, dear people of God, to accept 
these elders, whom you have chosen to rule in this 
Church, in the spirit of affectionate obedience and 
trust. Esteem them very highly in love for their 
work's sake. And bear them on your hearts in 
daily prayer to God that they may be abundant in 
godly counsel, and fruitful in heavenly consola- 
tions, and tenderly faithful in the exercise of Chris- 
tian discipline. 

Let us pray. 

O Lord God, most merciful and gracious, we 
thank thee for the new relationship that has been 
here established. Make it a blessing and a joy to 



1 04 OR DIN A TION OF ELDERS. 

elders and people forevermore. Grant that these 
office-bearers may rule well, and with befitting sense 
of their high ordainment as called of God to this 
stewardship. And may the people count them 
worthy of double honor, and willingly submit 
themselves unto the godly admonition of these, 
thy servants, walking with them in all obedience 
and charity. Amen. 

And now may the peace of God, which passeth 
all understanding, keep your hearts and minds 
through Christ Jesus. And the grace of the Lord 
Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the commu- 
nion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amep. 

Where there is an existing Session, it is proper that the 
members of that body, at the close of the service, and in 
the face of the congregation, take the newly-ordained elder 
by the hand, saying in words to this purpose, — ' ' We give 
you the right hand of fellowship, to take part of this office 
with us." 



RE-INSTALLA TION OF ELDERS. 105 



FORM OF REINSTALLATION OF ELDERS. 



According to the decisions of the General Assembly, when 
a ruling elder has terminated his connection with the 
Session by removal to another Church, or by resignation, 
or when he is re-elected under the rotary system, he is to 
be reinstalled before he can regularly exercise the duties 
of his office.— (See Digest, pp. 347, 54 6 , 547-) 

The elders to be installed will come forward as their names 
are called. 

Dearly Beloved : — Having heretofore been sol- 
emnly ordained to the office of ruling elder, you do 
now present yourselves to be reinstalled, in response 
to the voice of this church, calling you once more 
to the discharge of the active duties of said office. 

It is an office of divine appointment, and to it, 
very largely, is entrusted the care of the Church of 
God. Beloved brethren, let me urge you to carry 
in your memories and hearts the solemn charge of 
the Apostle, " Take heed to yourselves and to all 
the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made 
you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which 
he hath purchased with his own blood." And may 
you keep this commandment without spot, un- 
rebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

According to the usage of the Presbyterian 
Church,* you will now give answer to the follow- 
ing questions : 

*See Presbyterian Digest, p. 348. 



1 06 RE -INS TALL A TION OF ELDERS. 



Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confes- 
sion of Faith of this church as containing the sys- 
tem of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures ? 
• Do you accept the office of ruling elder in this 
congregation and promise faithfully to perform all 
the duties thereof? 

Do you promise to study the peace, unity and 
purity of the Church ? 

Each elder-elect shall audibly anwer these questions, saying 
in each instance : 

I do. 

The minister shall now address the members of the Church, 
saying : 

Do you, the members of this Church, receive 
these brethren as ruling elders, and do you promise 
to yield them all that honor, encouragement and 
obedience in the Lord, to which their office, ac- 
cording to the Word of God and constitution of 
this Church, entitles them ? 

The members of the Church shall answer by holding up 

their right hands. 
Then the Minister shall say : 

I hereby declare you to be reinstalled in the 
office of ruling elder, and now appointed to the 
active duties of that office in this particular Church. 
May you discharge these sacred duties with dis- 
criminating judgment and unflagging devotion. 

Let us pray. 

O Lord God, our heavenly Father, grant now 
thy special blessing to these brethren who here 
again have assumed the obligations of official 



RE -INS TALL A TION OF ELDERS, \ oy 



stewardship in thy Church. We thank thee for 
their past fidelity. And now that this people have 
been moved to put them again in trust of this holy 
office, may they study more than ever to show 
themselves approved unto God, workmen that need 
not be ashamed. Bind elders and people together 
in loving and reverent fellowship. And by the 
power of thy Holy Spirit, through this official 
trust, make this Church more and more fruitful in 
every good work to the glory of thy name in 
Christ Jesus. Amen. 



I08 ORDINA HON OF DEACONS. 



FORM OF ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 



The newly-elected deacons will come forward as their names 
are read by the minister, and when they have taken their 
places in front of the pulpit, the minister shall say : 

In the inspired history of the early Church it is 
recorded that when the number of the disciples 
was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the 
Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their 
widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 
And the twelve called the multitude of the disci- 
ples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we 
should forsake the word of God, and serve tables. 
Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you, 
seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of 
wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 
But we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in 
the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased 
the whole multitude : and they chose Stephen, a 
man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and 
Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, 
and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch : 
whom they set before the apostles : and when they 
had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 

This is our Scriptural warrant for setting men 
apart to the office of a Deacon in Christ's Church. 

Dearly beloved brethren, as you have been 
chosen to this office by the members of this par- 
ticular Church, in due form assembled and with 



ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 



prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you 
will now, according to the usage of the Presby- 
terian Churcb ; * give answer to the following ques- 
tions : 

1. " Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old 
and New Testaments to be the word of God, the 
only infallible rule of faith and practice ? 

2. " Do you sincerely receive and adopt the 
confession of faith of this church, as containing 
the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scrip- 
tures ? 

3. u Do you approve of the government and 
discipline of the Presbyterian Church in these 
United States ? 

4. 61 Do you accept the office of deacon in this 
congregation, and promise faithfully to perform all 
the duties thereof? 

5. " Do you promise to study the peace, unity, 
and purity of the church ? " 

The deacons-elect shall audibly answer these questions, say- 
ing in each instance : 

I do. 

The minister shall now address the members of the 
Church, saying : 

Do you, the members of this church, acknowl- 
edge and receive these brethren as deacons, and do 
you promise to yield them all that honor, encour- 
agement and co-operation in the Lord, to which 
their office, according to the word of God and the 
constitution of this church, entitles them. 



* Form of Government, Ch. 13, Sec. 4. 



no 



ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 



The members of the Church shall answer by holding up 
their right hands. 

Here the Deacons-elect shall devoutly kneel, and the min- 
ister shall set them apart by prayer of ordination {and, if 
desired, by the laying on of hands), saying : 

O thou blessed Lord Jesus, anointed to preach 
good tidings to the poor, and to set at liberty them 
that are bruised, set apart these thy servants, we 
beseech thee, by ordainment of thy Holy Spirit, to 
this same ministry of love and blessing to the poor 
of thy flock. Fill their hearts with something of 
that spirit by which thou wast prompted in thine 
infinite compassion to leave thy riches and become 
poor, that we, through thy poverty, might be rich. 
Give to these thy servants a prompt and hearty 
willingness to enter upon holy, self-denying service 
in behalf of those who suffer and are in want. 
And may they be called at last to the reward of 
those who shall be told by thee, " Inasmuch as ye 
ministered unto one of the least of my brethren, 
ye ministered unto me." This we ask in thy name 
and for thy sake, O thou gracious and condescend- 
ing Lord, our Saviour. Amen. 

By the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
according to the law of the Presbyterian Church, 
you have now been ordained to the office of Dea- 
con ; and I hereby declare you duly constituted 
and set apart as Deacons of this church. May 
you faithfully keep the vows of ordination and dis- 
charge, with wise discretion and sympathetic fidel- 
ity, the duties of your sacred office. Amen. 



ORDINATION OF DEACONS. 



Ill 



And now I charge you, brethren, ordained to be 
Deacons, study the Word to see what manner of 
men you ought to be. For the beloved apostle, 
writing by inspiration of God, declares that Dea- 
cons must be grave, not double-tongued, blameless, 
ruling their children and their own houses well, 
not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of 
the faith in a pure conscience. For they that have 
served well as Deacons gain to themselves a good 
standing, and great boldness in the faith which is 
in Christ Jesus. 

And I also charge you, dear people of God, into 
whose service and ministry of love these brethren 
have entered, that you baptize this ministry to the 
poor with your daily prayers, that you supply it 
constantly and cheerfully with your liberal gifts, 
that you accept the offices of these brethren when 
needed with hearty appreciation and gratitude as 
from Christ himself. And may the blessing of 
God in abundant measure be vouchsafed to officers 
and people, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



112 



LA YING OF CORNER-STONE. 



FORM FOR LAYING OF A CORNER-STONE. 



Frequently some public service is desired to mark the comple- 
tion of the foundation of the house of God, and the laying 
of the corner-stone, upon which the superstructure is to 
be builded. Hence the submission of the following order 
of service. 

The minister shall say : 

We are met this day to lay the corner-stone of 
this church building. We thus mark the first stage 
in the progress of material construction. When we 
have carried the head-stone to its place with shout- 
ings of Grace, grace unto it, we shall solemnly 
dedicate the completed temple to the service of Al- 
mighty God. The Church of the living God has 
but one true corner-stone — Jesus Christ — tried, 
precious and true. 

Let us invoke the divi?ie blessing. 

O thou, Lord God Almighty, who didst direct 
the foundations of the holy temple to be laid by thy 
people Israel, and who didst inspire thy people with 
joy, so that they shouted with a great shout when 
they praised the Lord, because the foundation of 
the house of the Lord was laid, bow thy heavens, 
we beseech thee, and vouchsafe thy presence and 
thy blessing, that we, too, may be stirred with de- 
vout thanksgiving and joy because the foundation, 
of this house of the Lord is laid. And may this 
service of prayer and praise, in connection with the 



LA YING OF CORNER-STONE. 113 

laying of the corner-stone of this new temple of 
worship, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our 
strength and our Redeemer ! Amen. 

Here shall be sung by the entire people : 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow ; 
Praise him, all creatures here below ; 
Praise him above, ye heavenly host ; 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

Here shall be read by the secretary of the Board of Trustees, 
or by any one appointed for the purpose \ a brief historical 
record of the Church. 

The?i the minister shall read the following Scripture : 

And when the builders laid the foundation of the 
temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their ap- 
parel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of 
Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the 
order of David king of Israel. And they sang one 
to another in praising and giving thanks unto the 
Lord, saying, For he is good, for his mercy en- 
dure th for ever toward Israel. And all the people 
shouted with a great shout, when they praised the 
Lord, because the foundation of the house of the 
Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Le- 
vites and heads of fathers' houses, the old men that 
had seen the first house when the foundation of this 
house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud 
voice ; and many shouted aloud for joy : so that 
the people could not discern the noise of the shout 
of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: 
for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the 
noise was heard afar off. — Ezra iii. 10-13. 

Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion 
8 



ii4 



LAYIXG OF CORNERSTONE. 



for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious 
cornero/toff, of sure foundation. — Isa. xxviii. 16. 

Unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected in- 
deed of men, but with God elect, precious, ye 
also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, 
to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacri- 
fices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

For you therefore which believe is the precious- 
ness : but for such as disbelieve, 
The stone which the builders rejected, 
The same was made the head of the corner ; 

and, 

A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. — I Pet. 
ii. 4-5, ;-8. 

Here shall follow a brief address, in which may be set 
forth the significance of the service, as a declaration of faith 
in Jesus Christ, as the one only foundation of the Church ; 
unto whom, coming, a living stone, all believing souls, as 
living stones, are built up a spiritual house, and in whom all 
the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy 
temple in the Lord. 

Here may be sung the following ^ or some other hymn : 

An earthly temple here we raise, 
Lord God, our Saviour ! to thy praise ; 
Oh, make thy gracious presence known 
While now we lay its corner-stone. 

Within the house thy servants rear 
Deign by thy Spirit to appear ; 
On all its walls salvation write, 
From corner-stone to topmost height. 

And when this temple, "made with hands, " 
Upon its firm foundation stands, 



LA YING OF CORNER-STONE. 115 



Oh, may we all with loving heart 
In nobler building bear a part. 

Where every polished stone shall be 
A human soul won back to thee ; 
All resting upon Christ alone, 
The chief and precious Corner-stone. 

So when our toil is o'er at last, 
All labor in both temples passed, 
Oh, may it then by works be shown 
That faith hath laid this corner-stone. 

All things being now in readiness for the laying of the 
corner-stone, the minister shall distinctly announce the arti- 
cles which have been placed in the box to be deposited in 
the stone. 

These contents vary, but they commonly include a copy of 
the Bible, a historical record of the church and list of offi- 
cers, a manual of the church, and some religious and 
secular pa pers. 

Here the box shall be deposited, and the stone formally 
put in place, and the minister shall declare it duly laid. 

Then shall be offered a prayer of dedication and thanks- 
giving. 

Here shall be sung : 
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty ! 
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and 
sea ; 

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty — 
God in three persons, blessed Trinity. 

The benediction. 



n6 



DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 



FORM FOR DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 



After the sermon the order of dedicatory service may be as 
follows : 

THE TK DEUM." 
(To be read unitedly by minister and people standing.) 

We praise Thee, O God ; we acknowledge Thee 
to be the Lord. All the Earth doth worship Thee, 
the Father everlasting. To Thee all angels cry- 
aloud; — the Heavens, and all the powers there- 
in. To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually 
do cry ;— " Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Sa- 
baoth ; Heaven and Earth are full of the majesty 
of Thy glory I" 

The glorious company of the Apostles praise 
Thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets 
praise Thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise 
Thee. The Holy Church throughout all the " 
world doth acknowledge Thee ; — the Father of 
an infinite majesty; — Thine adorable, true and only 
Son ; — also the Holy Ghost, The Comforter. 

Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ ; — Thou 
art the Everlasting Son of the Father. When 
Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man, Thou 
didst humble Thyself to be born of a Virgin. 
When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of 
death, Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven 
to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of 



DEDICA TION OF A CHURCH. 117 



God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that 
Thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore 
pray Thee, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast 
redeemed with Thy precious blood ; make them to 
be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. 

O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine heri- 
tage ; govern them and lift them up forever ! Day 
by day we magnify Thee ; and we worship Thy 
name ever, world without end. 

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without 
sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy 
upon us. O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us, as 
our trust is in Thee. O Lord, in Thee Hi*VE I 
trusted; let me never be confounded. 

THE DOXOIvOGY. 
(To be sung by the people still standing.) 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; 
Praise Him all creatures here below; 
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host: 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

THE LORD'S PRAYER. 

Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be 
Thy name. 

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, 

as it is in Heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our 

debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us 
from Evil. 



1 1 8 DEDICA TION OF A CHURCH. 



For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and 
the Glory, forever. Amen. 

The congregation being seated, the minister will now read 
the following Scripture : 

And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord 
in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, 
and spread forth his hands toward heaven : and he 
said, O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God 
like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath ; 
who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants, 
that walk before thee with all their heart : who 
hast kept with thy servant David my father that 
which thou didst promise him: yea, thou spakest 
with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine 
hand, as it is this day. Now therefore, O Lord, 
the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my 
father that which thou hast promised him, saying, 
There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit 
on the throne of Israel ; if only thy children take 
heed to their way, to walk before me as thou hast 
walked before me. Now therefore, O God of Is- 
rael, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which 
thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. 
But will God in very deed dwell on the earth ? 
behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot 
contain thee ; how much less this house that I have 
builded! Yet have thou respect unto the prayer 
of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my 
God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer 
which thy servant prayeth before thee this day : 
that thine eyes may be open toward this house 
night and day, even toward the place whereof thou 



DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 119 

hast said, My name shall be there : to hearken 
unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray 
toward this place. And hearken thou to the sup- 
plication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, 
when they shall pray toward this place : yea, hear 
thou in heaven thy dwelling place : and when thou 
hearest, forgive. — 1 Kings viii. 22-30. 

And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished 
the building of the house of the Lord, and the 
king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he 
was pleased to do, that the Lord appeared to Solo- 
mon the second time, as he had appeared unto him 
at Gibeon. And the Lord said unto him, I have 
heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou 
hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, 
which thou hast built, to put my name there for 
ever ; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there 
perpetually. — 1 Kings ix. 1-3. 

Here the keys of the house shall be formally transferred by 
the Chairman of the Building Committee to the legally 
constituted custodians of the property, the Chairman say- 
ing : 

I hereby transfer to you, as Representative of 
the Board of Trust, the keys of this now completed 
building. 

To which the response shall be : 

I accept these keys in behalf of the legally con- 
stituted custodians of this building. 

the dedication. 
(To be said responsively, the people standing.) 
Minister. — Blessing and glory and wisdom and 



120 



DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 



thanksgiving and honor and power and might be 
unto our God for ever and ever. 
People. — Amen. 

Minister. — Behold, the tabernacle of God is with 
men and He shall dwell with them. 

People. — And they shall be His people, and God 
Himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

Minister. — Lord, who shall sojourn in thy taber- 
nacle ? 

People. — Who shall dwell in thy holy hill ? 

Minister. — He that walketh uprightly and work- 
eth righteousness. 

People. — And speaketh truth in his heart. 

Minister. — Who shall ascend into the hill of the 
Lord? 

People. — And who shall stand in the holy place? 
Minister. — He that hath clean hands and a pure 
heart. 

People. — Who hath not lifted up his soul unto 
vanity, 

And hath not sworn deceitfully. 

Minister. — He shall receive a blessing from the 
Lord. 

People. —And righteousness from the God of his 
salvation. 

Minister. — Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; yea, 
lift them up, ye everlasting doors ; 

People. — And the King of Glory shall come in. 

Minister. — Who is this King of Glory ? 

People. — The Lord of hosts, He is the King of 
Glory. 

Minister. — But will God in very deed dwell on 



DEDICA TION OF A CHURCH. 1 2 1 



the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of 
heavens cannot contain thee ; how much less this 
house which we have builded. 

People. — Yet have respect, O Lord, unto the 
prayer which thy servants pray before thee this 
day, that thine eyes may be open towards this house 
night and day. 

Minister, — Let the beauty of the Lord, our God, 
be upon us. 

People. — And establish thou the work of our 
hands upon us ; yea, the work of our hands, estab- 
lish thou it. 

Minister and People unitedly. — This house, 
which wk have been permitted to buiiyd 
through the gracious favor of divine provi- 
dence, we do now solemnly dedicate to the 
worship and service of almighty god, the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Here shall be sung this word of praise : 
Holy, holy, holy ! Lord God almighty ! 
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and 
sea : 

Holy, holy, holy ! merciful and mighty, 
God in three persons, blessed Trinity. 

DEDICATORY PRAYER. 

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which 
art and wast and art to come, Thou art the Father of 
lights in whom is no variableness, neither shadow 
of turning. Of old thou hast laid the foundations 
of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy 
hands. Thou hast prepared thy throne in the 



122 DEDICA HON OF A CHURCH. 



heavens, and it is a throne of glory high and lifted 
up, and before thee the seraphim cover their faces. 

Yet blessed be thy holy name, O thou God of 
infinite majesty, though the heaven of heavens can- 
not contain thee, thou hast condescended to dwell 
with the children of men. Thy way, O God, is in 
the sanctuary. Of old thou didst command a 
house to be built for thy worship. And when it 
was finished thou didst say to thy servant, I have 
chosen and sanctified this house that my name 
may be there forever, and mine eyes and mine 
heart may be there perpetually. And thou didst 
make it the place of thy throne and the place of 
the soles of thy feet, and thy council chamber. 
So that strength and beauty were in thy sanctuary. 
And thy people counted a day in thy courts better 
than a thousand, and were glad when they said, 
Let us go into the house of the Lord. For the 
Lord is in his holy temple : let all the earth keep 
silence before him. 

We rejoice, O God, that thou dost still write 
salvation upon the walls and praise upon the gates 
of the temples thy people build for thee. Though 
we no longer have the visible Shekinah, thou dost 
vouchsafe the invisible presence of the Holy Spirit. 
Though we no longer have the audible voice and 
the mystic sign of Urim and Thummim, yet we 
possess thy holy oracles and sure word of prophecy. 
We know that those who truly seek thee may find 
thee anywhere, in any wilderness or desert place. 
But thou hast commanded the assembling of our- 
selves together for worship. Thou hast ordained 



DEDICA TION OF A CHURCH. 123 



that by the foolishness of preaching men should 
be saved. And thou hast given some very precious 
promises to them that are met together in thy 
name. 

And so we bring thee this place of Assembly, 
this house that we have builded. We solemnly 
dedicate it to thee. We set it apart for thy wor- 
ship — for the offering of prayer and thanksgiving ; 
for the sacrifice of broken and contrite hearts ; for 
the reading and hearing of thy holy Word; for the 
unfolding of the heavenly oracles; and for the ad- 
ministration of thine appointed sacraments. Bow 
thy heavens, O Lord, and come down, and make 
this house now and forever thy dwelling-place. 
Fill it with the glory of thy presence. Upon wall 
and window, upon lintel and door-post, upon pulpit 
and pew and organ, may there be written, Holiness 
to the Lord. 

We beseech thee, O thou most merciful God, 
that thou wilt keep covenant with thy people as 
they assemble here for worship. Satisfy the souls 
that come hither hungering and thirsting after 
righteousness. Meet here the souls that would see 
Jesus. Welcome here the prodigals that have wan- 
dered in a dry and thirsty land where no water is, and 
that would come back to the Father's house, where 
there is bread enough and to spare. Here throw 
thy shields over those that are assaulted of Satan, 
and compass them about with songs of deliverance. 
Here spread thy table with the choicest bounties of 
thy grace — yea, with the bread and wine of the 
Kingdom of God — so that the hungry may be filled 



124 DEDICA TION OF A CHURCH. 



with good things. Lord, teach transgressors thy 
ways, in this sanctuary, and let sinners be con- 
verted unto thee. Let the Word of God prevail 
to the pulling down of strongholds and the casting 
down imaginations and every high thing that is ex- 
alted against the knowledge of God. Open thou 
our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out 
of thy law. Order our steps in thy word. Write 
thy law in our hearts. 

Give especially to thy servants who may here 
hold forth the Word of life, so to cry after knowl- 
edge and to lift up their voice for understanding, to 
seek for it as silver and to search for it as for hid 
treasure, that they may understand the fear of the 
Lord and find the knowledge of God. Make them 
mighty in the Scriptures, that they may be perfect, 
thoroughly furnished unto all good works. And 
may multitudes pass from the w r orship and com- 
munion of this earthly house to the heavenly fel- 
lowship of the house not made with hands, the 
City without foundation, whose builder and maker 
is God. 

And unto the King eternal, incorruptible, invisi- 
ble, the only God, be honor and glory, for ever and 
ever. Amen. 



POETICAL SELECTIONS, 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 



Often it happens that some rare bit of song or sacred lyric, 
by one of God's singers, fits into the need of an hour of sick- 
ness or sorrow, as if dropped out of heaven. Readily to 
command these deep and sweet thoughts of God that have 
been set in verse, is not always possible. That a minister of 
consolation may now and then be convenienced by finding in 
this little manual a few of these " voices of the earth"' is 
the only reason why they are here. 

LOOKING HEAVENWARD. 

Beyond the smiling and the weeping, 

I shall be soon ; 
Beyond the waking and the sleeping, 
Beyond the sowing and the reaping 
I shall be soon. 
Love, rest and home ! 

Sweet home ! 
Lord, tarry not, but come. 

H. Bo?iar. 

The land beyond the sea ! 
Sometimes across the strait, 
Like a drawbridge to a castle-gate, 
The slanting sunbeams lie, and seem to wait 

For us to pass to thee, 

Calm land beyond the sea. 

F. W. Fiber. 

One sweetly solemn thought 

Comes to me o'er and o'er ; 
I'm nearer home to day 

Than I ever have been before. 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 



Nearer the bound of life, 
Where we lay our burdens down ; 

Nearer leaving the cross — 
Nearer wearing the crown. 

But lying darkly between, 
Winding down through the night, 

Is the dim and unknown stream 
That leads, at last, to the light. 

Saviour, perfect my trust, 

Strengthen the might of my faith ; 
Let me feel as I would when I stand 

On the rock of the shore of death, — 

Feel as I would when my feet 
Are slipping over the brink ; 

For it ma}^ be I'm nearer home- 
Nearer now than I think. 

Miss P. Cary> 

How pleasant are thy paths, O Death ! 

Like the bright slanting west, 
Thou leadest down into the glow, 
Where all those heaven-bound sunsets go, 

Ever from toil to rest. 

How pleasant are thy paths, O Death ! 

From sin to pleasing God ; 
For the pardoned in thy land are bright 
As innocence in robe of white, 

And walk on the same road. 

How pleasant are thy paths, O Death ! 

Straight to our Father's home ; 
All loss were gain that gained us this, 
The sight of God — that single bliss 

Of the grand world to come. 

F. W. Fader. 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 12 J 

Jerusalem the golden, 

With milk and honey blest ! 
Beneath thy contemplation 

Sink heart and voice oppressed ; 
I know not, Oh ! I know not 

What social joys are there — 
What radiancy of glory — 

What light beyond compare. 

Tr. /. M. Neale. 



SUBMISSION IN TRIAIy. 

My Jesus, as thou wilt ! 

Oh ! may thy will be mine ; 
Into thy hand of love 

T would my all resign ; 
Through sorrow or through joy, 

Conduct me as thine own, 
And help me still to say — 
My Lord, thy will be done. 

My Jesus, as thou wilt ! 

All shall be well for me ; 
Each changing future scene 

I gladly trust with thee ; 
Straight to my home above 

I travel calmly on, 
And sing, in life or death, — 
My Lord, thy will be done. 

Schmolke. 

He comes and lays my heart, all heated, 

On the bare anvil, minded so 
Into his own fair shape to beat it, 

With his great hammer, blow on blow ; 
And yet I whisper, " As God will ! " 
And at his heaviest blows hold still. 




POETICAL SELECTIONS. 



TRUST IX TRIAL. 

I worship thee, sweet will of God ' 

And all thy ways adore, 
And every day I live I seem 

To love thee more and more. 

I love to kiss each print where thou 

Hast set thine unseen feet ; 
I cannot fear thee, blessed will ! 

Thine empire is so sweet. 

When obstacles and trials seem 

Like prison walls to be, 
I do the little I can do, 

And leave the rest to thee. 

F W. Faber. 



PEACE IX TRIAL. 

These surface troubles come and go, 

Like rumings of the sea ; 
The deeper depth is out of reach 

To all, my God, but thee. 

F. IV. Faber. 



COMFORT IX TRIAL. 

Christ leads me through no darker rooms 

Than he went through before ; 
He that into God's kingdom comes 

Must enter by this door. 

Richard Baxter. 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 



I 



GRATITUDE IN TRIAI,. 

I praise thee while my days go on ; 

I love thee while my days go on ; 
Through dark and dearth, through fire and frost, 
With emptied arms and treasure lost, 

I thank thee while my days go on. 

Mrs. Browning. 



TEARS. 

To forge a sun, to rivet myriad stars, 

Through serried veins to pour earth's flashing rills, 
To kennel hungry seas in granite bars, 

To whet the lightnings on the rock-browed hills — 
.Majestic wonders ! But sweet to be kept, 
And, crowning wonder of them all, God wept. 

L,o ! our humanity has touched God's crown 

As some frail leaf might touch the bending spheres ; 

And from the heights of Godship he stooped down 
To bathe his forehead in the brine of tears. 

He lived and talked with men ; he toiled and slept, 

But struck our human key-note when he wept. 

Weep, burdened soul ! Let fall thy tears like rain ; 

God counts the drops in which thy slow years steep 
He gathers them like mountain dew again, 

Transformed to pearls which seraphim shall keep 
For thy soul's crowning, when, by grief unswept, 
It leans upon the breast of him that wept 

Lillian Blanche Fearing. 

Thank God, bless God, all ye who suffer not 
More grief than ye can weep for. 
9 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 



Thank God for grace, 
Ye who weep only ! If, as some have done, 
Ye grope, tear-blinded, in a desert place, 
And touch but tombs, — look up ! Those tears will run 

Soon in long rivers down the lifted face, 
And leave the vision clear for stars and sun. 

Mrs. Browning. 



OF WELLINGTON. 

O, iron nerve to true occasion true ! 

O fall'n at length, that tower of strength, 
Which stood four-square to all the winds that blew. 

Tennyson. 



OF COWPER. 

O man ! this man in brotherhood your weary paths be- 
guiling. 

Groaned inly while he taught you peace, and died while 
ye were smiling. 

Mrs. Browning. 



TRANSIENT AND PERMANENT. 

Our little systems have their day ; 

They have their day and cease to be ; 

They are but broken lights of thee, 
And thou, O Lord, art more than they. 

Tennyson. 

Truth is large. Our aspiration 

Scarce embraces half we be. 
Shame ! to stand in his creation 

And doubt Truth's sufficiency ! 
To think God's song unexcelling, 
The poor tales of our own telling. 

Mrs. Browning. 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 131 



OF A CHII.D. 

The still affection of the heart 
Became an outward breathing type, 
That into stillness passed again, 
And left a want unknown before. 

Tennyson. 

We could not wish her whiter — her 
Who perfumed with pure blossom 

The house ! — a lovely thing to wear 
Upon a mother's bosom. 

Mrs. Browning. 

The baby wept ; 
The mother took it from the nurse's arms, 
And hushed its fears and soothed its vain alarms ; 

And baby slept. 

Again it weeps ; 
And God doth take it from the mother's arms, 
From present griefs and future unknown harms, 

And baby sleeps. 



ASI/KBP. 

Of all the thoughts of God that are 
Borne inward unto souls afar, 

Along the Psalmist's music deep, 
Now tell me if that any is 
For gift or grace surpassing this — 

He giveth his beloved sleep. 

And friends, dear friends, when it shall be 
That this low breath is gone from me, 

And round my bier ye come to weep ; 
Let one, most loving of you all 
Say, " Not a tear must o'er her fall — 

He giveth his beloved sleep." 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 



Asleep in Jesus ! blessed sleep ! 
From which none ever wakes to weep ; 
A calm and undisturbed repose, 
Unbroken by the last of foes. 

Asleep in Jesus ! peaceful rest ! 
Whose waking is supremely blest ; 
No fear, no woe, shall dim that hour 
That manifests the Saviour's power. 

Asleep in Jesus ! Oh, for me 

Ma} T such a blissful refuge be ; 

Securely shall my ashes lie 

And wait the summons from on high. 

Mrs. Mackay. 



HYMNS OF TRUST. 

Abide with me ! Fast falls the eventide ; 
The darkness deepens ; Lord ! with me abide ; 
When other helpers fail and comforts flee, 
Help of the helpless ! oh, abide with me ! 

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little da}' ; 
Earth's joys grow dim ; its glories pass away ; 
Change and decay in all around I see ; 

thou who changest not ! abide with me. 

1 need thy presence every passing hour ; 

What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power ? 
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be ? 
Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me ! 

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless ; 
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness ; 
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory? 
I triumph still, if thou abide with me. 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 133 



Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes, 
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies ; 
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee; 
In life, in death, O Lord ! abide with me. 

Lyte. 

Jesus, lover of my soul ! 
1 Let me to thy bosom fly 

While the billows near me roll, 

While the tempest still is high ; 
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, 

Till the storm of life is past ; 
Safe into the haven guide, 

Oh, receive my soul at last. 

Other refuge have I none ; 

Hangs my helpless soul on thee ; 
Leave, ah ! leave me not alone,' 

Still support and comfort me ; 
All my trust on thee is stayed, 

All my help from thee I bring ; 
Cover my defenceless head 

With the shadow of thy wing, 

Ckas. Wesley. 

Lead, kindly light ! amid the encircling gloom, 

Lead thou me on ; 
The night is dark, and I am far from home ; 

Lead thou me on ; 
Keep thou my feet ; I do not ask to see 
The distant scene ; one step enough for me. 

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou 

Shouldst lead me on ; 
I loved to choose and see my path ; but now 

Lead thou me on ; 
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, 
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years. 



134 



POETICAL SELECTIONS. 



So long thy power has blest me, sure it still 

Will lead me on 
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till 

The night is gone, 
And with the morn those angel faces smile 
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile ! 

J. H. Newman. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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